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Dysfunction Junction
When three women receive an unexpected phone call that leaves them reeling, they have no other choice but to reckon with a lifetime of memories they’ve long tried to bury. Only in facing the past will they find their path forward.
Frances Mae Livingston’s firm grip of her family’s destructive history makes her hold her husband and four children even closer. But she’s losing bits of herself while proving to everybody and her mama that she’s enough. There’s no way she’ll repeat her mama’s mistakes, even if it kills her.
Annabelle McMillan didn’t have trouble kicking the Eastern North Carolina dust off her feet. The tough part was replanting herself in familiar soil. Now she’s blending her old life with her new husband, stepson, and unborn child. And battling old memories of abandonment and new fears of rejection.
Dr. Charlotte Winters has built a career around helping others sort through their emotional baggage. She’s also spent a lifetime refusing to unpack her own. So what if Charlotte doesn’t recall all that her mama did to her and what her daddy didn't do for her? Her only mission is to help others help themselves…until the women from her past and the man in her future undo her well-sewn life.
At the junction of healed and hurting, broken and whole, and past and present, three women wrestle with their inability to forgive and forget in this riveting Southern family drama about sisterhood from award-winning author Robin W. Pearson.
Frances Mae Livingston’s firm grip of her family’s destructive history makes her hold her husband and four children even closer. But she’s losing bits of herself while proving to everybody and her mama that she’s enough. There’s no way she’ll repeat her mama’s mistakes, even if it kills her.
Annabelle McMillan didn’t have trouble kicking the Eastern North Carolina dust off her feet. The tough part was replanting herself in familiar soil. Now she’s blending her old life with her new husband, stepson, and unborn child. And battling old memories of abandonment and new fears of rejection.
Dr. Charlotte Winters has built a career around helping others sort through their emotional baggage. She’s also spent a lifetime refusing to unpack her own. So what if Charlotte doesn’t recall all that her mama did to her and what her daddy didn't do for her? Her only mission is to help others help themselves…until the women from her past and the man in her future undo her well-sewn life.
At the junction of healed and hurting, broken and whole, and past and present, three women wrestle with their inability to forgive and forget in this riveting Southern family drama about sisterhood from award-winning author Robin W. Pearson.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2024
32 people are currently reading
4090 people want to read
About the author
Robin W. Pearson
5 books458 followersRobin W. Pearson’s writing sprouts from her Southern upbringing, her belief in Jesus Christ, and her love of her husband, seven children, and their dog, Oscar. Her novels are “rooted in the soul of the story” and include her Christy Award–winning debut, A Long Time Comin’, as well as ’Til I Want No More, Walking in Tall Weeds, and her latest, Dysfunction Junction. Robin has corrected grammar up and down the East Coast in her career as an author and editor and in her calling as a homeschooling mama of many. She loves to share about her faith and her family through her fiction; her blog, https://robinwpearson.com/mommy-conce... at conferences such as Breathe, Fiction Readers Summit, and Vision Christian Writers; and with her friends and followers @robinwpearson. They're the source of all the characters living and breathing in the stories waiting to be told about her belief in Jesus Christ and the experiences at her own kitchen sink. Learn more on https://robinwpearson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
May 9, 2024
I liked the story quite enough. I just didn’t find it it particularly captivating. My mind kept drifting while listening to the audiobook.
Story: 3 stars
Narration: 3 stars
Story: 3 stars
Narration: 3 stars
February 5, 2024
This was an uplifting story that is very slow paced which is why I rated it a little lower. Sometimes slower paced stories just don’t work well for me. This is the first book I’ve tried by Pearson but def won’t be my last as I see she’s got a few books she’s previously published.
March 12, 2024
This book was good until the ending… hopefully that’s a set up for a 2nd book
June 2, 2025
While I found it hard to connect with the three sisters originally, I loved seeing their character growth. I also enjoyed how the story switched between past and present.
January 3, 2024
Bravo to Robin W. Pearson for tackling difficult and relevant issues with tact and humor. DYSFUNCTION JUNCTION struck deep for me as the eldest of three sisters. She truly captured the dynamics of growing up in a troubled environment where the sisters do what they can to survive—then forget that they need to learn how live as sisters now free.
THE STORY: Three sisters, Frankie, Annabelle, and Charlie survived their childhood, but lost their relationships with each other. A phone call with unexpected and unwanted news throws the sisters together to unite or grow further apart. Each sister has a distinct point-of-view on their memories and how to handle them.
A complex story that somehow brings forth the simple messages of forgiveness, identity, faith, and hope.
Again, bravo, Robin Pearson!
Highly recommended for Robin Pearson fans, stories of family dynamics, faith, sisterhood, southern settings, redemption, and inspirational fiction.
I received an ARC from the publisher for my honest review.
THE STORY: Three sisters, Frankie, Annabelle, and Charlie survived their childhood, but lost their relationships with each other. A phone call with unexpected and unwanted news throws the sisters together to unite or grow further apart. Each sister has a distinct point-of-view on their memories and how to handle them.
A complex story that somehow brings forth the simple messages of forgiveness, identity, faith, and hope.
Again, bravo, Robin Pearson!
Highly recommended for Robin Pearson fans, stories of family dynamics, faith, sisterhood, southern settings, redemption, and inspirational fiction.
I received an ARC from the publisher for my honest review.
November 12, 2023
Everyone loves a fast-paced page turner, but do you ever just find yourself craving a slower read? Something deeper that you can savor and take your time with? For me, that was this book. Lessons of forgiveness and hope within every chapter.
For a more comprehensive review, follow me on Bookstagram at aliciasbooksanctuary
For a more comprehensive review, follow me on Bookstagram at aliciasbooksanctuary
March 27, 2024
Oh chile this family! Unfortunately, their story was oh so common but often suppressed, especially in an era where we love to share highlight reels. This family dealt with very real, very painful things. I loved the different perspectives showing the read how each person handled the shared story and how it affected them as a family, but also as individual women.
February 9, 2024
If you’re looking for a story that will be neatly tied up with a bow when all is said and done then you don’t want to read Dysfunction Junction by Robin W. Pearson.
But if you want a story that will leave you working out in your mind how to forgive the deepest hurts in your life by accepting you may never fully be able to resolve the pain someone caused because the chance to confront them was taken from you, then this is a book you should read.
Frankie, Annabelle, and Charlotte’s mother abandoned them emotionally for their entire childhoods and into adulthood. I wanted justice for them.
What I found instead was a promise of peace and forgiveness being worked through and walked toward. Also the promise to each other that the mistakes made by their mother will never be made by the sisters.
I have said this before and I will say it again about Robin’s writing. The characters she writes are so absolutely real and fleshed out. The way she writes her characters makes them feel like someone you know – maybe even the person you see in the mirror every day.
Maybe not everything about the character is exactly like someone you know but enough that you can say, “Oh I see reflections of who they used to be or who they are or who I am now.”
And then you want to read on because you wonder if in the pages you will read something that will help you make sense of that person you couldn’t make sense of or a moment with them or even of a moment with yourself.
Maybe through Robin’s characters, you will learn more about yourself as well as those who hurt you.
Lessons were learned in this book but not all the lessons some might like to see. It isn’t a spoiler to say that even when the end of the book was reached the lessons were still being learned and then there were promises again – promises of lessons that will continue to be learned off the page.
That’s how real life is – we are always learning and growing and developing. We will do that until we reach the end of our own story and step off the page into glory.
That’s why I love Robin’s books. She doesn’t pretend that life’s challenges are easily resolved, easily tied up and stamped with the words “the end,” but she does leave you with hope.
But if you want a story that will leave you working out in your mind how to forgive the deepest hurts in your life by accepting you may never fully be able to resolve the pain someone caused because the chance to confront them was taken from you, then this is a book you should read.
Frankie, Annabelle, and Charlotte’s mother abandoned them emotionally for their entire childhoods and into adulthood. I wanted justice for them.
What I found instead was a promise of peace and forgiveness being worked through and walked toward. Also the promise to each other that the mistakes made by their mother will never be made by the sisters.
I have said this before and I will say it again about Robin’s writing. The characters she writes are so absolutely real and fleshed out. The way she writes her characters makes them feel like someone you know – maybe even the person you see in the mirror every day.
Maybe not everything about the character is exactly like someone you know but enough that you can say, “Oh I see reflections of who they used to be or who they are or who I am now.”
And then you want to read on because you wonder if in the pages you will read something that will help you make sense of that person you couldn’t make sense of or a moment with them or even of a moment with yourself.
Maybe through Robin’s characters, you will learn more about yourself as well as those who hurt you.
Lessons were learned in this book but not all the lessons some might like to see. It isn’t a spoiler to say that even when the end of the book was reached the lessons were still being learned and then there were promises again – promises of lessons that will continue to be learned off the page.
That’s how real life is – we are always learning and growing and developing. We will do that until we reach the end of our own story and step off the page into glory.
That’s why I love Robin’s books. She doesn’t pretend that life’s challenges are easily resolved, easily tied up and stamped with the words “the end,” but she does leave you with hope.
February 25, 2024
This book took me out of my comfort zone of my normal reads. However, this book hit me on a very personal level, like I wanted to DM the author and ask her how she knew my business 😬. I could deeply relate to this story and the characters especially Frankie; I am her and she is me. This story was very emotional for me. Through all the tears, I really enjoyed this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 8, 2024
Dysfunction Junction by Robyn W. Pearson is a slow paced family story about sisters that will pull at your heartstrings but give you some healing by its conclusion. It explores sisterhood through the individual lens of each sister. It is a great reminder that siblings don't experience their parents in the same way and how unresolved trauma may inform their memories. It explores forgiveness and if it should be unconditional. It explores relationships with faith and how it can be part of one's healing journey. I also loved how the labeling of children as "half-siblings" or "step-children" can have a negative impact in how they view themselves within a family and in comparison to their other siblings. It was also good to see how social workers can be great at helping others with their mental health but still struggle with their own personal traumas. This is one you will have you sit with and process as you are reading because it is emotionally charged. It deals with themes of motherhood and neglect, abandonment, found family, sisterhood, generational trauma, religion and faith, community, marraige and memory.
Some of my favorite quotes in this one were:
• "Helping other people with their trauma is much easier than seeing your way through your own."
• "...trusting an eyewitness was like trying to catch the seeds of a dandelion."
• " I think of the past as whatever happened before now. The dinner we just ate, that's in the past. But your history? That's connected to you and it moves with you. It explains how and why you came to be. It's more than an event or the forty years of baggage I've been toting around."
I appreciate all the Miss Hatties of the world who try their best to be there for children that aren't their own and embody the spirit of "it takes a village". Thanks to @tyndalehouse and @cocoachapters for the gifted copy and opportunity to be on tour.
Some of my favorite quotes in this one were:
• "Helping other people with their trauma is much easier than seeing your way through your own."
• "...trusting an eyewitness was like trying to catch the seeds of a dandelion."
• " I think of the past as whatever happened before now. The dinner we just ate, that's in the past. But your history? That's connected to you and it moves with you. It explains how and why you came to be. It's more than an event or the forty years of baggage I've been toting around."
I appreciate all the Miss Hatties of the world who try their best to be there for children that aren't their own and embody the spirit of "it takes a village". Thanks to @tyndalehouse and @cocoachapters for the gifted copy and opportunity to be on tour.
November 13, 2025
I am struggling with how to write this review. I liked many elements of this book, but struggled with others. I had lots of hope for this book because I love family dynamics and healing in books, and so was looking forward to that aspect in this book. While some of that was in the book, there was a lot to take make out of the story.
What I enjoyed about the book was the faith elements and truths that Robin weaved in to the story. I enjoyed each of the siblings’ faith journey and even the dynamics of the husbands/boyfriends leading the woman in faith. I also enjoyed the family dynamics between the sisters and the way Robin portrayed each one having their own view/memories of how things went down in their past. It felt real and dynamic in that way.
What I struggled with was the plot. In my opinion that got kinda let go in the book. There was a loose plot that was difficult to follow/understand. The premise of it wasn’t fully developed and even the ending felt like it came a little out of nowhere for me. It was also a challenge for me to get used to the writing style at the beginning of the book, but that sometimes happens when I try a new to me author.
Overall, I did enjoy the story and want to try another book by Robin, but think this one may not have been for me. I would recommend this if you enjoy books that focus more on the characters’ internal thoughts/journey rather than a plot. There are also multiple POVs and that was very interesting.
Content Guide:
Language: No Language
Spice: Level 1: Kissing Only
TW: Childhood Neglect/abuse (past), child death (past), loss of a parent
Content Considerations: None
What I enjoyed about the book was the faith elements and truths that Robin weaved in to the story. I enjoyed each of the siblings’ faith journey and even the dynamics of the husbands/boyfriends leading the woman in faith. I also enjoyed the family dynamics between the sisters and the way Robin portrayed each one having their own view/memories of how things went down in their past. It felt real and dynamic in that way.
What I struggled with was the plot. In my opinion that got kinda let go in the book. There was a loose plot that was difficult to follow/understand. The premise of it wasn’t fully developed and even the ending felt like it came a little out of nowhere for me. It was also a challenge for me to get used to the writing style at the beginning of the book, but that sometimes happens when I try a new to me author.
Overall, I did enjoy the story and want to try another book by Robin, but think this one may not have been for me. I would recommend this if you enjoy books that focus more on the characters’ internal thoughts/journey rather than a plot. There are also multiple POVs and that was very interesting.
Content Guide:
Language: No Language
Spice: Level 1: Kissing Only
TW: Childhood Neglect/abuse (past), child death (past), loss of a parent
Content Considerations: None
February 9, 2024
The three girls—Annabelle, Frankie, and Charlotte—get a call out of the blue that has them spinning. They are being called home. They have to face a lifetime of memories they have tried to forget. Memories of their mother’s rejection. Their attempts to hide their pain must be dealt with. The girls soon learn they can only find their way to healing by dealing with the past. They had to be there for each other one more time.
Through her narration, I liked the depth the author brought to the story by the use of current day surroundings, and childhood flashbacks, make the reader feel as though they are there as these young women, learn that who they were in the past doesn't determine who they are now.
This is a powerful, healing, heart-felt story I could not put down. Parts of this story hit my heartstrings. It’s a story we all can learn from. If you haven’t read any of this author ‘s novels I highly recommend this one. It’s one you won’t soon forget.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/
Through her narration, I liked the depth the author brought to the story by the use of current day surroundings, and childhood flashbacks, make the reader feel as though they are there as these young women, learn that who they were in the past doesn't determine who they are now.
This is a powerful, healing, heart-felt story I could not put down. Parts of this story hit my heartstrings. It’s a story we all can learn from. If you haven’t read any of this author ‘s novels I highly recommend this one. It’s one you won’t soon forget.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/
March 1, 2024
Frankie, Annabelle, and Charlotte are three sisters who are all as adults trying to forget and overcome their past. When they unexpectedly get a phone call regarding their mother, they must band together and make some hard decisions. I loved this story that interlaced the past and present as well as each woman's individual story so well. Even though the women were all raised together, they all experienced the neglect and trauma of their childhoods differently as children which also carries into adulthood as different manifestations of trauma. Robin W. Pearson did a good job of weaving together this story with multi-layered characters.
February 12, 2024
Written like an American classic, a window into what I view as an all too familiar family experience.
Pearson gives three sisters incredible and individual voices in the telling of their childhood and how they came to be the adult women they amidst recent tragedy.
There is a lot of pain and burden carried by each of the ladies-absolutely understandable as women often find a way to carry and bury things in hopes of making life better for the next generation.
I fell in love with the girls and their communication with one another. Their relationships aren’t perfect but you can feel the deep care and bond they share.
Pearson gives three sisters incredible and individual voices in the telling of their childhood and how they came to be the adult women they amidst recent tragedy.
There is a lot of pain and burden carried by each of the ladies-absolutely understandable as women often find a way to carry and bury things in hopes of making life better for the next generation.
I fell in love with the girls and their communication with one another. Their relationships aren’t perfect but you can feel the deep care and bond they share.
February 12, 2024
I really enjoyed this tale of 3 sisters! It had so much heart, so much love, and so much forgiveness and understanding. It was a beautiful story that just sucks you in. The characters were so interesting and their situation so unique. Truly, a well-written family epic. Highly recommend!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 19, 2024
In Dysfunction Junction, Robin W. Pearson weaves a redemptive tale of three women who grapple with their shared past, their family’s destructive history, and their individual paths toward healing.
Pearson brings to life three sisters—Frances Mae, Annabelle, and Dr. Charlotte Winters—each with a unique perspective shaped by their birth order and personalities. Their chaotic beauty and struggles resonate with readers, regardless of their own upbringing. The novel masterfully navigates the characters’ emotional baggage and unresolved past.
This family saga delves into sisterhood, forgiveness, and the complexities of relationships. Pearson captures the essence of Southern culture and family ties. Her exploration of forgiveness, redemption, and the power of sisterhood is both moving and relatable.
Dysfunction Junction is a compelling read that will resonate with anyone who has experienced family dysfunction
Pearson brings to life three sisters—Frances Mae, Annabelle, and Dr. Charlotte Winters—each with a unique perspective shaped by their birth order and personalities. Their chaotic beauty and struggles resonate with readers, regardless of their own upbringing. The novel masterfully navigates the characters’ emotional baggage and unresolved past.
This family saga delves into sisterhood, forgiveness, and the complexities of relationships. Pearson captures the essence of Southern culture and family ties. Her exploration of forgiveness, redemption, and the power of sisterhood is both moving and relatable.
Dysfunction Junction is a compelling read that will resonate with anyone who has experienced family dysfunction
February 21, 2024
Dysfunction Junction by Robin W. Pearson is a bracing examination of the wounds left by poor mothering. Alternating between the childhoods and adult lives of three sisters we see the “dysfunction” referenced in the title wreaked on the young lives by their distant, self absorbed mother. As the story unfolds, alternating between the girls childhoods and their present day adult lives the depths of their collective pain is revealed, but so is redemption.
Pearson’s literary style gives the reader/listener evocative sentences and beautiful descriptions firmly grounding the reader in time and place. The multiplicity of characters, young and old, men and women are deftly handled by narrator LaNecia Edmonds. 5 Stars for the realistic, truth telling Dysfunction Junction.
Pearson’s literary style gives the reader/listener evocative sentences and beautiful descriptions firmly grounding the reader in time and place. The multiplicity of characters, young and old, men and women are deftly handled by narrator LaNecia Edmonds. 5 Stars for the realistic, truth telling Dysfunction Junction.
February 7, 2024
This book was a deep read and interspersed between the present and the past. The three sisters rose above a very difficult and neglectful past. The challenges still are difficult for the sisters in the present day but the bond is still there. My favorite part was the support that their spouses or boyfriends provided. They were amazing to each of these women.
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
June 17, 2025
Enjoyed reading about the sisters but that mother of theirs was something else!!!!
February 6, 2024
This is a book that touched deep within the crevices of your heart. Even though the topics were heavy I still found delight and laughter throughout the book. I love a good book based upon biblical principles and this fit the description. Every tough subject was dealt with a hand of delicacy that I can appreciate. This is my first read from this author and l look forward to many more.
Thank you Netgalley and Tynsdale Publisher for the ARC.
Thank you Netgalley and Tynsdale Publisher for the ARC.
February 22, 2024
This book is a powerful and uplifting tale that follows three sisters navigating adulthood after childhood trauma. The multiple points of view and dual timeline add layers to the story, immersing you in its narrative. Themes of sisterhood, healing, and found family are beautifully explored, making it a faith-filled story about the enduring bonds of sisterhood.
February 20, 2024
I really like this book. The author did a great job in breaking down the different dynamics with each sister. The way the mother was portrayed is just another reminder that every child sees a different version of you. I don't want to tell the entire book lol just go check it out
April 28, 2024
Dysfunction Junction is an enthralling exploration of family dynamics and the lasting impact of upbringing. As someone who has witnessed the effects of trauma within my own family, this book resonated deeply with me. The author’s candid portrayal of complex relationships and the intergenerational transmission of pain is both poignant and thought-provoking.
I found myself captivated by the characters’ journeys, each grappling with their own demons and striving to break free from the chains of their past. The narrative is rich with emotion, offering a raw and honest portrayal of the human experience.
The way the book ended left me eagerly anticipating a potential sequel. With unresolved tensions and unanswered questions lingering, I can’t help but wonder what lies ahead for these characters. Will they find closure and redemption, or will they continue to be haunted by their past?
Overall, Dysfunction Junction is a compelling read that delves deep into the complexities of family relationships and the resilience of the human spirit. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys thought-provoking literature that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
I found myself captivated by the characters’ journeys, each grappling with their own demons and striving to break free from the chains of their past. The narrative is rich with emotion, offering a raw and honest portrayal of the human experience.
The way the book ended left me eagerly anticipating a potential sequel. With unresolved tensions and unanswered questions lingering, I can’t help but wonder what lies ahead for these characters. Will they find closure and redemption, or will they continue to be haunted by their past?
Overall, Dysfunction Junction is a compelling read that delves deep into the complexities of family relationships and the resilience of the human spirit. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys thought-provoking literature that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
November 21, 2023
Robin Pearson is known for her stories that deal with today's issues. In Disfunction Junction she once again dives into an issue that most of us will have to face someday. Although the 3 sisters in this story have to face it with a bit more baggage than some of us.
Frances Mae, Annabelle and Charlotte basically raise themselves as their mother was more interested in finding her next husband and her own company than she was in her children. As they are still trying to heal from the wounds of that childhood, they receive word that their mother is no longer able to care for herself and they have to decide how to help her.
A story that we all can relate to in some way or another, Pearson pens a story filled not only with the issues, but also forgiveness and how to show a love to a person who has never show you any love.
Frances Mae, Annabelle and Charlotte basically raise themselves as their mother was more interested in finding her next husband and her own company than she was in her children. As they are still trying to heal from the wounds of that childhood, they receive word that their mother is no longer able to care for herself and they have to decide how to help her.
A story that we all can relate to in some way or another, Pearson pens a story filled not only with the issues, but also forgiveness and how to show a love to a person who has never show you any love.
December 22, 2023
The novel Dysfunction Junction by Robin W. Pearson runs deep with matters of the heart. I appreciate the interweaving of comedic relief, whether from Annabelle’s “church dream” or Frankie and Charlie’s sarcasm. Pearson brought faith into the scenes, which must have come from the Holy Spirit. Last, the past chained all three sisters to tragedy surrounding their younger brother. The author handled the tough subject with care. A great supportive motherly figure such as Miss Hattie, and supportive significant others.
This book is perfect for fans of sisters, siblings, southern settings, redemption, family drama, family sagas, Christian Fiction, and inspirational fiction.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Tyndale, and was not required to give a positive review.
This book is perfect for fans of sisters, siblings, southern settings, redemption, family drama, family sagas, Christian Fiction, and inspirational fiction.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Tyndale, and was not required to give a positive review.
October 11, 2023
The struggles and victories in Dysfunction Junction will tug at your heartstrings. Pearson is gentle with readers who can relate to the characters’ traumas, but don’t underestimate the twists and turns that you won’t see coming. Buckle up for a touching story, and enjoy the ride!
June 26, 2024
Good book, slow start. Talks about importance of forgiveness from past hurts in family. How decisions we make can be formed by how we process challenges, trials, & struggles in our lives.
March 15, 2024
Frankie, Annabelle, and Charlotte each have a different perspective on their shared & troubled childhood, based on their birth order and personalities, and each is at a different place on the road to healing. And though I personally had an upbringing that was the polar opposite of what the sisters in Robin W. Pearson’s Dysfunction Junction experience (something I don’t take for granted), every family tree has dysfunction in its branches. Which means that every reader can relate on some level to the layered characters Pearson brings to life in this redemptive story.
“Listen, Frankie, there are two places I’m not goin’ with you – and that’s back and forth.”
I very much enjoyed getting to know these three sisters in all their chaotically beautiful glory. Frankie, who as the oldest sibling stepped into a mothering role as a child, now spends her days wrangling her own kids as a homeschool mom… but she finds it hard to completely relinquish that role in her sisters’ lives too. Annabelle may have been the one to leave but now she’s back home, adjusting to life as a wife and stepmom and expectant mom while navigating adult relationships with her equally-damaged sisters and the decisions that must be made about their mom. Charlotte, the baby of the three girls, helps others unpack their own emotional baggage while steadfastly ignoring her own … at least until it all comes to a head with one life-upending phone call and a new relationship she can’t bring herself to end like she’s done all the others. The sisters’ sassy banter with each other felt real and affectionate, and even if it did help them to avoid the tougher conversations it also kept them grounded in each other and delighted me as a reader. And then there’s Miss Hattie who is an angel of mercy to these girls – then and now – clearly sent by God to be His hands and feet and heart in their lives.
“He remains our Abba Father even when our earthly fathers and mothers abandon us, die, move away, or plain don’t care.”
Bottom Line: With eloquent prose and poignant insight, author Robin W. Pearson walks her vibrant characters through the intersection of brokenness and healing in her latest compelling novel, Dysfunction Junction. The depth and sensitivity with which the author tactfully grapples with tough issues of neglect, addiction, and abuse ensures that every page radiates grace, pointing to the restoration and wholeness that only Jesus can bring when a wounded heart is willing to do the work. Frankie, Annabelle, and Charlotte leapt straight into my heart, and I was solidly invested in each character. A moving novel in every way, made all the more enjoyable by Pearson’s warm writing voice, smooth pacing, and snappy dialogue.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
“Listen, Frankie, there are two places I’m not goin’ with you – and that’s back and forth.”
I very much enjoyed getting to know these three sisters in all their chaotically beautiful glory. Frankie, who as the oldest sibling stepped into a mothering role as a child, now spends her days wrangling her own kids as a homeschool mom… but she finds it hard to completely relinquish that role in her sisters’ lives too. Annabelle may have been the one to leave but now she’s back home, adjusting to life as a wife and stepmom and expectant mom while navigating adult relationships with her equally-damaged sisters and the decisions that must be made about their mom. Charlotte, the baby of the three girls, helps others unpack their own emotional baggage while steadfastly ignoring her own … at least until it all comes to a head with one life-upending phone call and a new relationship she can’t bring herself to end like she’s done all the others. The sisters’ sassy banter with each other felt real and affectionate, and even if it did help them to avoid the tougher conversations it also kept them grounded in each other and delighted me as a reader. And then there’s Miss Hattie who is an angel of mercy to these girls – then and now – clearly sent by God to be His hands and feet and heart in their lives.
“He remains our Abba Father even when our earthly fathers and mothers abandon us, die, move away, or plain don’t care.”
Bottom Line: With eloquent prose and poignant insight, author Robin W. Pearson walks her vibrant characters through the intersection of brokenness and healing in her latest compelling novel, Dysfunction Junction. The depth and sensitivity with which the author tactfully grapples with tough issues of neglect, addiction, and abuse ensures that every page radiates grace, pointing to the restoration and wholeness that only Jesus can bring when a wounded heart is willing to do the work. Frankie, Annabelle, and Charlotte leapt straight into my heart, and I was solidly invested in each character. A moving novel in every way, made all the more enjoyable by Pearson’s warm writing voice, smooth pacing, and snappy dialogue.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
March 1, 2024
3.5 stars
"Don't y'all get tired of all this rigamarole about what a terrible mother we had?"
Rehashing their convoluted childhood was exhausting, especially for Frances Mae, the oldest of the three Winters girls, now the mother of four, who "was quite weary of serving as the point of intersection for their two lines; Charlotte and Annabelle always seemed to be headed in opposite, equally dysfunctional, directions". The thing was, after years apart they were back together again, sort of, and the sweet woman who had "mothered" them far more than their biological namesake was asking them to make a decision that would affect their lives going forward, if they could stop arguing long enough to have an honest conversation about it.
Splitting her delivery between "then" and "now", the author takes her readers along on a painful journey through the childhood memories of three young women who had managed to survive their childhood, but who each carried some version of emotional scars, bitter feelings, and perhaps slightly skewed recollections of what had actually happened. How could they love when they had never felt loved? How could they remain in one place when all they had wanted to do was run away? How could God . . . . "use all the hardship, all the lack, all the pain . . . for our good".
"He remains our Abba Father even when our earthly fathers and mothers abandon us, die, move away, or plain don't care."
A very thoughtful, inspirational reminder that the journey forward can look totally different from the tangled path we must often leave behind.
"Don't y'all get tired of all this rigamarole about what a terrible mother we had?"
Rehashing their convoluted childhood was exhausting, especially for Frances Mae, the oldest of the three Winters girls, now the mother of four, who "was quite weary of serving as the point of intersection for their two lines; Charlotte and Annabelle always seemed to be headed in opposite, equally dysfunctional, directions". The thing was, after years apart they were back together again, sort of, and the sweet woman who had "mothered" them far more than their biological namesake was asking them to make a decision that would affect their lives going forward, if they could stop arguing long enough to have an honest conversation about it.
Splitting her delivery between "then" and "now", the author takes her readers along on a painful journey through the childhood memories of three young women who had managed to survive their childhood, but who each carried some version of emotional scars, bitter feelings, and perhaps slightly skewed recollections of what had actually happened. How could they love when they had never felt loved? How could they remain in one place when all they had wanted to do was run away? How could God . . . . "use all the hardship, all the lack, all the pain . . . for our good".
"He remains our Abba Father even when our earthly fathers and mothers abandon us, die, move away, or plain don't care."
A very thoughtful, inspirational reminder that the journey forward can look totally different from the tangled path we must often leave behind.
April 27, 2024
The characters in this novel were fun to get to know, and the different nuances in their personalities were quite interesting. Don’t always expect warm fuzzies, though, because Ms. Pearson always tells it like it is! As you are led down the path that the three sisters have taken, you begin to get clarity into their upbringing and how it has shaped their adult world. It was also gratifying to see their stations in life as adults considering how they were raised. If we were quite honest with ourselves, we probably could perceive some of the dysfunction in our own upbringing that we all unwittingly have. I always enjoy Ms. Pearson’s novels because she crafts fabulous characters (warts and all!) and has a style and voice that is uniquely her own.
Her tagline is “rooted in the soul of the story,” and that absolutely suits her perfectly! I have read and thoroughly enjoyed everything she has published, and I don’t hesitate to recommend her backlist. I would start with her Christy Award winning novel debut, A Long Time Comin’, however each novel is a stand-alone, with maybe an easter egg or two on occasion. I usually offer up another author here to compare to, but she stands alone as a fresh new voice in the fiction world.
I borrowed a copy of this book from my local public library, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Her tagline is “rooted in the soul of the story,” and that absolutely suits her perfectly! I have read and thoroughly enjoyed everything she has published, and I don’t hesitate to recommend her backlist. I would start with her Christy Award winning novel debut, A Long Time Comin’, however each novel is a stand-alone, with maybe an easter egg or two on occasion. I usually offer up another author here to compare to, but she stands alone as a fresh new voice in the fiction world.
I borrowed a copy of this book from my local public library, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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