Sisters of Fortune

by Esther Chehebar

In this hilarious, heart-warming debut novel, three Syrian Jewish sisters chase love and grapple with the growing pains of young womanhood as they seek their place within and beyond their Brooklyn community.

The Cohen sisters are at a crossroads. And not just because the middle sister, Fortune, is starting to question her decision to get married in just a few months. Nina, the eldest sister, is single at 26 (and growing cobwebs by her community's standards) when she runs into an old childhood friend who offers her the chance to leave behind the pressure to follow in her younger sister’s footsteps. Meanwhile, Lucy, the youngest, a senior at her yeshiva high school, has recently started sneaking around with a mysterious older bachelor that has everybody asking themselves, 'Fortune, who?'

As Fortune inches ever closer to the chuppah, the three sisters find themselves in a tug of war between tradition and modernity, reckoning with what their community wants and with what they want for themselves—and all while learning how to roll the perfect grape leaf under the tutelage of their charismatic grandmother, Sitto, who fled Syria in 1992, and of their mother Sally, whose anxieties are tangled up in her daughters’ futures.

Sisters of Fortune is a sister story about dating, ambition, and coming-of-age under the scope of an immigrant community whose coded language is endearing, maddening, and never boring. The book reckons with what we dream for ourselves, our daughters, and granddaughters. It is concerned as much with where we come from as where we are going—and, above all, with what we are eating for dinner. (And who is making it).

Genres: Fiction, Jewish, Contemporary, Judaism, Literary Fiction, Book Club, Family Drama

320 pages, Hardcover

First published July 22, 2025

About the author

Esther Chehebar is a contributing writer at Tablet magazine, where she covers Sephardic Jewish tradition and community, and a member of Sephardic Bikur Holim, a non-profit supporting the growing Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn. She holds an MFA from the New School and has had her work featured in Glamour and Man Repeller. Chehebar’s first book, I Share My Name, was an illustrated children’s book explaining the Sephardic tradition of naming children for their grandparents. She lives in New York with her husband, their kids, their Ori-Pei named Jude, and a couple of fish. This is her debut novel.

Reviews

[DianaRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

4.5 stars

i really enjoyed sisters of fortune, which follows three sisters on the cusp of womanhood through the lens of roles in the family and marriage.

there’s a lot of social and cultural commentary to unpack in this novel, which i really appreciated as someone of the opposite religion/ethnicity vastly outside of the jewish syrian community.

i also listened to the audiobook and there was a narrator for each sister, which i think always adds a special touch; i could absolutely not stand nina’s narrator, though.

[Monica Hills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great story about three sisters living in Brooklyn. They come from a strict Syrian Jewish family. This story is a look at their life as all three sisters challenge their cultural norms as they decide what type of life they want. "Sisters of Fortune" dives into the lives of the three sisters in Brooklyn's Syrian Jewish community as they navigate love, ambition, and growing up.

Fortune, the middle sister, is having second thoughts about her impending marriage. Nina, the eldest, feels the pressure of being single and unexpectedly finds an opportunity for a different path. Meanwhile, young Lucy is causing a stir with her secret relationship with an older man.

As they inch closer to their own futures, the sisters find themselves balancing tradition with their personal desires. Their journey is interwoven with the wisdom and cooking of their grandmother, Sitto, a Syrian immigrant, the anxieties of their mother, who just wants to see all three of them married, and their father, whose business is not doing well. It's a tale about family, finding your place, and the delicious, sometimes complicated, blend of heritage and modern life.

I truly enjoyed this story. The book was told from all three sisters' point of view and I can honestly say that there was not a character that I preferred. All three stories were engaging and I was rooting for all three of them to get out of life what they wanted most. Reading about the Jewish Syrian culture was fascinating. The foods that were described sounded so delicious and many of the traditions they described were not something that I had heard of before. This was a great read and I think anyone would enjoy the story!

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Denise Ruttan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one, even though it's not my usual cup of tea. I am trying to expand my reading repertoire this year into women's fiction, memoirs and other genres that I find challenging and I was drawn to this because I was interested in learning more about the Sephardic culture of Syrian Jewish second-generation immigrants in Brooklyn. I was pleasantly surprised at how lighthearted, boisterous and funny it was after reading heavy and stressful books about multicultural issues.

It reminded me quite a bit of the vibes of My Big Fat Greek Wedding (except the wedding doesn't go like you'd expect) and The Bandit Queens (without the crime). At times I got bored because this isn't my usual genre and it was completely immersive in the daily rhythms of family and community life of these three close-knit sisters, and not much actually happened. It was a very passive narrative structure that was more slice of life than action oriented. It was cozy and it touched on deeper themes but more in a YA or coming of age way, just grazing the surface.

Fortune is the good, obedient daughter, the one who never steps out of line or talks back, who does everything right and helps out her mother like a good Syrian girl in a community where your whole life is mapped out for you, in a culture where if you aren't married off to at 25 (usually to a much older man) you're seen as a crone and this creates scandalous gossip for your family. In this community reputation is everything and the smallest slip-up, like a 17-year-old female guest getting too drunk at a wedding, marks you for ridicule and punishment. Fortune, at age 21, is preparing for her wedding to a man she doesn't love, a fact she's coming to terms with throughout the book. I loved Fortune and her unexpected character arc.

The points of view shift between her other two sisters, Lucy, who is a high school senior and being courted by a doctor 11 years her senior, and Nina, the rebellious one who gets a job at a record label and has an office romance with a childhood sweetheart.

I felt like I was right there sitting in this kitchen with this tumultuous yet loving family, where women are often forced into loveless marriages for cultural expectation but they find ways to carve out their own happiness anyway. Like one of the sisters observes about her parents, there is a warm acceptance between them that some would mistake for love. Thought-provoking, raw and touching.

I loved the descriptions of food and cooking, and how they enriched cultural traditions and religious rituals. I could practically smell and taste the dishes off the page.

I felt like I was a part of this tight-knit family and watching them grow up and decide for themselves what they wanted against all the rigid expectations of their community.

This book was like a warm, gentle, exuberant hug the whole way through.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.75 stars)
Thank you to Random House and Penguin Random House Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to a review copy of Sisters of Fortune.

The description of this debut novel had me thinking it would be the perfect read for me. It focuses on three Syrian Jewish sisters in Brooklyn, and I grew up in Brooklyn in a neighborhood next to a predominantly Syrian neighborhood, and I was somewhat familiar with their community. I love stories that center Jewish characters and I love stories set in New York City. Sadly, this book didn’t really work for me.

When the book opens, we meet Fortune, the middle sister. She’s 21 and engaged to a young man in “the community” but she’s having second thoughts about it. Her older sister Nina is 26 and by their community standards, Nina is considered rather old to still be single. She’s a more interesting character to me than Fortune is; she wants to make her own way in the world while still respecting traditions. The youngest sister is Lucy, a senior in high school who is dating a man who is 30 years old, a doctor, so he is considered a real catch - that age gap didn’t sit well with me at all. The story was a bit drawn out and fairly boring and predictable for most of it. I could see several possibilities in the trajectories of each sister, some of which turned out as I expected but some that did not. I was very dissatisfied with how Fortune’s story ended and was surprised by Lucy’s. There was a huge emphasis on money, on dieting, and on high-end brand name items, be it clothing, purses, or cars. It made the community seem so status-conscious and it made me a little uncomfortable and unable to really connect with most of the characters. I did love the emphasis on family and community, however. The sister connection was a good one, even though they are VERY different people, but I never had a sister so that didn’t help me relate to them. I appreciated reading the backstories of the parents (mostly the mother) and the grandmother who lived with them.

There are a lot of Syrian expressions and food names thrown around without any explanation. There IS a glossary at the end, but it honestly wasn’t all that helpful. There were a bunch of terms I wanted to clarify and many of them were not included in the glossary (Google to the rescue on many of those, mainly food items).

I bounced between the ebook and the audiobook for this title. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by three different women: Olga Namer, Gail Shalan, and Gilli Messer. Again, thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and listen to a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Morgan Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone loves a good coming-of-age story, especially one centered around sisters, and Sisters of Fortune delivers just that. This heartwarming debut novel follows the Cohen sisters—Nina, Fortune, and Lucy—who are each at a crossroads as they navigate love, tradition, and their place within their tight-knit Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn. Nina, at 26, feels the pressure of being single, especially as her younger sister, Fortune, prepares for her upcoming wedding—though Fortune herself is starting to question if marriage is truly what she wants. Meanwhile, their youngest sister, Lucy, is secretly seeing an older bachelor, adding even more tension to their family’s already high expectations.

This book was unique to me because it introduced me to a culture I knew little about. Before reading, I hadn’t realized that Syria had a Jewish population, let alone that there was a thriving Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn. Esther Chehebar seamlessly weaves cultural details into the narrative, from the importance of family expectations to the mouthwatering food descriptions, and I especially loved the Arabic asides—they made the world feel even more immersive.

Chehebar did a fantastic job crafting each character, making me emotionally invested in their journeys—especially Sitto, the sisters’ charismatic grandmother, who stole every scene she was in. As I read, I found myself making little predictions and wishes for each sister, and while not everything played out exactly as I had hoped, the ending was still incredibly satisfying.

I believe this is Chehebar’s debut novel, and I’m excited to see what she writes next. If you enjoyed Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors or even Little Women by Louisa May Alcott but are looking for a fresh cultural perspective, this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced copy.

[Kressel Housman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of this book is an Orthodox Jew making her debut, and whenever a frum author manages to break away from the standard Artscroll and Feldheim Publishers and make it into the mainstream, I’m immediately interested. The flap copy describes her as “the Jewish Jane Austen,” and even though that’s hackneyed praise at this point, it genuinely fit because she writes about love, marriage, family, and status in the Syrian Jewish community of Brooklyn. The “Fortune” in the title refers to the middle of three sisters, who is also the first to get engaged. Now the oldest is a pitiable old maid in the eyes of the community, but she’s also a rebel who doesn’t give an f***. The novel alternates between the perspectives of the sisters, and I felt like I was reading about a clear-eyed Lizzy, a sweet and docile Jane, and a Lydia party animal. But since the ending turned out totally different than what I predicted, the writer gets extra kudos.

A warning to my frum friends, especially my fellow Ashkenazim. The characters in this book are not shomer negiyah. (In other words, some of them have sex before marriage and others just fool around.) Perhaps this laxness is an accurate depiction of the Syrian Jewish community, but I am more inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that the publisher pressured the author to spice things up for the broader audience. If you’re frum, you’ll probably like the book, but only if you can keep an open mind about this portrayal of characters purporting to be frum.

As for more general audiences, I definitely think this is a women’s book, but if you like reading about family relationships while learning about another culture, this is worth a try. If you’re an Ashkenazi, you’re in for some culture lessons as well. But nobody should take this as normative behavior in Orthodox Jewish life. In reality, people are a lot more strict, and therefore, a lot less dramatic.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This debut novel is the story of three widely disparate Syrian Jewish sisters who "...chase love and grapple with the growing pains of young womanhood as they seek their place within and beyond their Brooklyn community... [they] find themselves in a tug of war between tradition and modernity,"

Add in a feisty grandmother, domineering mother, submissive father, various suitors, and members of the community.

Told in the voice of each sister {Fortune, Nina, Lucy]. Family, tradition, conflicts, business[es].

Many references to food as the mother has a catering business and the grandmother is the source of many recipes.

I really wanted more of an examination of the Syrian Jewish culture and life in Brooklyn. The Syrian is distracting as it is harder to access/follow a glossary in an ebook--which in this case is not comprehensive enough.

And, one can judge a book by its cover--I should have known better]--I got chick lit+/nearly fluff [IMHO].

I saw at least one of the trajectories a mile away--always a minus for me.

Read or pass.

[Kati Berman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book very much. The story of three sisters growing up in a Sephardic Jewish family in Brooklyn could have been a good story, that’s why I was looking forward to reading it. However, I found the story boring and predictable. Middle sister Fortune is engaged, but not in love. Youngest sister still in high school dating a much older man, but he is going to be a doctor, thus he is a good catch. The oldest daughter is in no rush to get married even if her younger sisters get married before her. There are a few humorous moments, but otherwise not much is happening and then the book just ends without wrapping up some story lines. There are numerous mentions of Syrian food with their original names, which most American readers would not understand. Although there is a glossary at the end of the book, it is not much help, especially when reading an e book. Overall, no more than two stars for me.
I received a complimentary copy, opinions are my own.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time of year, all I want to read are books with Jewish representation - I'm not a spooky season type of reader. This one is full of it and a good family drama as well. Fortune is the middle of three sisters of a Syrian-Jewish family in Brooklyn, NY and engaged to be married. Her other two sisters (Nina and Lucy) are also main characters in the book, with sections from each sister's perspective and story - mostly focusing on their love lives. Each of them have their own somewhat unique story, as they try to figure out who they are within the cultural / community expectations and the watchful eyes of their mother and grandmother. The book includes the words in Arabic that they would have used, and the foods that are typical of the community which both help it feel even more authentic. It definitely left me craving some Syrian food at the end. At first it was weird going a bit back and forth between the characters, but I got used to it and really enjoyed the story. I didn't want to leave these characters at the end. Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the advanced e-copy!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really glad I got a chance to read Sisters of Fortune! It was like Jewish comfort food for the soul. I enjoyed getting to know Fortune, Nina, and Lucy, Syrian Modern Orthodox sisters living in Brooklyn in the late '00s. Fortune (the middle sister) is about to get married but something doesn't feel right. Nina is judged for being 27 and not married, but she is finally doing something she wants. Lucy is almost out of high school and dating a 30 year-old doctor. He's wealthy though, so no one is complaining. There's a lot of parental involvement and opinions nudging their way into the sisters' lives and decisions they make for themselves. And there's also Sitto, their grandmother, who has a lot to say.

I liked all the Jewish elements and learning new things about Sephardic foods and rituals. I was glad the story was split between the sisters so that we got each of their perspectives. The entire time, I felt like I was right there in the Cohen home hanging out with everyone in the family, and perhaps helping them cook or prepare for Shabbat and upcoming holidays.

I had a few minor concerns, but nothing that took away from my enjoyment. I noticed a time inconsistency at the beginning: They said it was Monday but suddenly it turned into Wednesday. Lucy's storyline didn't match with the synopsis, as it said she was sneaking around but she wasn't as everyone knew who she was seeing. Finally, it would have been helpful to have definitions in footnotes or more context for words and phrases that were not defined in the glossary.
I really enjoyed this book and have been recommending it to my friends. The cultural aspect was interesting as I am only slightly familiar with Sephardic customs and foods (although I'm still not sure what knafeh is). The story was just edgy and relatable overall.

It was difficult to cast a movie version of this book, but it would be cool if one were made. I could only think of one idea, and that is Lainie Kazan for Sitto.

(Trigger warnings below.)

Originally posted at Chick Lit Central.
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TW: Death of grandparent. Bodily functions mentioned often.

[Ruby Rosenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I felt a keen sense of relatability to the characters through our Jewish heritage, despite my lacking of an additional Syrian one. I thought this book portrayed the pains and wins of womanhood very well, and in a complex and nuanced manner.

I did however feel like the last third or so of the book was so rushed. I didn’t love that, especially because up until then, every event was beautifully written, complete with intimate details and important moments. Was sometimes disappointed with the ending, and how things turned out for each character, but it was certainly thought provoking. Loved this overall though!!!!!

[Tammy O · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina, Fortune, Lucy, Sitto and their mother stayed on my mind long after I finished the book. I wanted to read more! I enjoyed their stories and experiences. I was so intrigued by the traditions, language, culture and connections of their Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn. Esther Chehebar’s debut is a well written love letter to her people. There is honor, respect and love throughout the book, along with humor and fun.

I liked this thought of Fortune’s as she shopped for her wedding gift registry with her future mother-in-law:
“I nod along, continuing to add brushstrokes to a portrait I ultimately don’t see myself wanting to be a part of. And yet, I set the table, not fully knowing whether I intend on sitting down to dinner.”

Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley.

[Ideezy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

We follow three sisters as they navigate life and love in their Brooklyn community. The chapters switch between POVs, sometimes jumping long stretches of time: both things I really loved. Every word felt intentional, no chapter wasted. I didn’t think it was possible to fall in love with all the characters, but I did. Their growth and development felt real. I love that things didn’t go how I thought they would. I really adored the inclusion of a glossary at the end of the book for words/phrases that some readers may not be familiar with.

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esther Chehebar's debut novel Sisters of Fortune arrives like a perfectly timed revelation in the landscape of contemporary Jewish fiction. Following her previous work, the illustrated children's book I Share My Name, which explored Sephardic naming traditions, Chehebar now delivers a sophisticated coming-of-age narrative that delves deep into the intricate world of Brooklyn's Syrian Jewish community. This is literary fiction that doesn't merely observe its subjects from a distance but inhabits their world with remarkable intimacy and authenticity.

The novel centers on the Cohen sisters—Fortune, Nina, and Lucy—each standing at a different crossroads of womanhood within their tightly knit community. Fortune, the middle sister, finds herself increasingly uncertain about her upcoming marriage to Saul Dweck, despite the elaborate swanee gifts already exchanged and the wedding invitations sent. Nina, at twenty-six and single, faces mounting pressure and coded whispers about becoming an "old maid" by community standards. Meanwhile, Lucy, the youngest at seventeen, secretly dates David, an older bachelor who represents both excitement and potential scandal.

Character Development: Three Distinct Voices, One Shared Heritage

Chehebar's greatest strength lies in her ability to craft three distinctly voiced protagonists who feel authentically different yet bound by shared cultural DNA. Fortune emerges as the dutiful daughter caught between expectation and desire, her internal conflict manifesting in increasingly bold encounters with Isaac from the neighboring Spice store. Her character arc—from compliant bride-to-be to a woman questioning her predetermined path—unfolds with psychological precision.

Nina, the eldest, carries the burden of being the family's "unmarried" daughter while harboring ambitions that extend beyond the kitchen and the chuppah. Her sharp wit and occasional bitterness reflect the genuine frustration of a woman torn between family loyalty and personal autonomy. Lucy, precocious and confident, represents the newest generation's willingness to push boundaries, though her relationship with David reveals the complex dynamics of age, power, and community judgment.

The supporting characters, particularly Sitto (grandmother) Fortune and their mother Sally, provide rich cultural texture without falling into stereotype. Sitto emerges as a complex matriarch whose traditional wisdom masks a deep understanding of change, while Sally navigates the exhausting middle ground between her mother-in-law's expectations and her daughters' evolving desires.

Cultural Authenticity: An Insider's Perspective Done Right

One of the novel's most impressive achievements is Chehebar's authentic portrayal of Syrian Jewish Brooklyn life. The author clearly writes from lived experience, evident in her detailed depiction of community rhythms, from the social significance of grape leaf rolling lessons to the intricate politics of wedding guest lists. The inclusion of a glossary featuring terms like "nassib" (husband/Syrian prince charming) and "nobeh" (traditional dance party) demonstrates Chehebar's commitment to cultural specificity without alienating readers unfamiliar with the community.

The food culture receives particular attention, with Sitto's knafeh recipe and detailed descriptions of mazza preparation serving as more than mere background color. These culinary elements function as metaphors for tradition, family bonds, and the ways cultural identity literally nourishes community life. Chehebar understands that food is never just food in immigrant families—it's memory, love, and resistance all simmered together.

Narrative Structure: Weaving Multiple Perspectives

Chehebar employs a rotating third-person narrative that allows each sister to occupy center stage in turn. This structure serves the story well, enabling readers to experience the same community events through different lenses and generational perspectives. The pacing is generally strong, with tension building naturally toward Fortune's wedding date as each sister grapples with her individual crisis.

However, the novel occasionally stumbles in its ambitious scope. Some plot threads—particularly Nina's music industry aspirations and certain aspects of Lucy's relationship with David—feel underdeveloped compared to Fortune's more fully realized storyline. The book might have benefited from either deeper exploration of these subplots or a tighter focus on Fortune's journey.

Themes: The Weight of Tradition in Modern Times

The novel's central theme—the tension between tradition and individual choice—never feels heavy-handed despite its serious implications. Chehebar skillfully examines how cultural preservation can both sustain and constrain, particularly for women in patriarchal communities. The Niddah classes Fortune attends, with their detailed rules about religious purity, serve as a powerful symbol of how tradition can feel both sacred and suffocating.

The author also explores the concept of arranged versus chosen relationships with nuance. Rather than simply critiquing traditional matchmaking, she examines how community involvement in marriages can provide both support and pressure. Fortune's uncertainty about Saul isn't presented as rebellion against tradition but as a young woman's legitimate questioning of compatibility and desire.

Writing Style: Authentic Dialogue and Vivid Settings

Chehebar's prose style feels effortless and natural, capturing the rhythms of multicultural Brooklyn speech without resorting to caricature. Her dialogue sparkles with authenticity, particularly in family scenes where multiple generations and perspectives collide. The author has a keen ear for the way language shifts between formal and intimate moments, public and private spaces.

The Brooklyn setting comes alive through specific details—from the parking challenges on Ocean Parkway to the social dynamics of the Spice grocery store. These aren't just backdrops but active elements that shape character behavior and plot development. The author's description of community gatherings, with their complex social hierarchies and unspoken rules, feels particularly vivid and accurate.

Critical Considerations: Where the Novel Falters

While Sisters of Fortune succeeds admirably as a debut, it isn't without weaknesses. The novel's exploration of class dynamics within the Syrian Jewish community, while present, could be more fully developed. The economic pressures facing some families receive mention but lack the deep examination given to cultural and religious themes.

Additionally, some of the male characters—particularly Saul and David—feel less fully realized than their female counterparts. While this might reflect the novel's focus on women's experiences, stronger development of these characters could have enhanced the romantic and relationship elements of the plot.

The novel's ending, while emotionally satisfying, resolves certain conflicts somewhat conveniently. Fortune's ultimate decision, while psychologically believable, arrives with less complexity than the careful buildup might suggest.

Final Assessment: A Promising Debut with Lasting Impact

Sisters of Fortune announces Chehebar as a significant new voice in contemporary fiction. While the novel has minor structural weaknesses, its emotional intelligence, cultural authenticity, and compelling character development far outweigh these concerns. This is the rare debut that feels both accomplished and promising, suggesting even greater works to come.

The novel succeeds brilliantly at its primary mission: bringing readers inside a specific cultural world while exploring universal themes of choice, identity, and family loyalty. Chehebar writes with the confidence of someone who knows her characters and their world intimately, creating a reading experience that feels both educational and deeply entertaining.

For readers seeking authentic voices in contemporary Jewish fiction, Sisters of Fortune represents an essential addition to the canon. It's particularly recommended for those interested in women's fiction, immigrant narratives, and anyone curious about the complex dynamics of traditional religious communities in modern America.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sisters of Fortune" by Esther Chehebar is both humorous and deeply moving. It's a family saga centered around three distinctly different sisters living in a close-knit Syrian-Jewish community in Brooklyn. It is also a coming-of-age novel about the difficulties of balancing your own desires against the traditions and expectations of your family and community. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and getting to know each of the three sisters intimately. I didn't feel like an impartial observer; rather, I felt like I was a guest at their family table, helping to prepare a meal while listening to the sisters talk.

This is a very strong debut and Esther Chehebar is definitely an author to watch. I look forward to reading more from her! Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this laugh-out-loud but also heart-warming book!

[SueK · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a readable and entertaining book, while also giving insight into a tight-knit community I know nothing about.

Based on the lives of Syrian Jewish sisters, their very involved mother and grandmother, and their extremely opinionated community. This peek into the customs, cooking, and rules of the community was a great way to learn about an immigrant community while being entertained.

Recommended, especially if you enjoy stories about family dynamics and cultural expectations.

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC. Opinions are my own. Book has been published.

[Star Gater · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Random House for allowing me to read and review Sisters of Fortune on NetGalley.

Published: 07/22/25

Stars: DNF

Basically I didn't find the story humorous and was irritated with the bantering.

Hopefully your experience will be different.

[Sara Bromberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Qué rica lectura. A veces sentimos que nuestro punto de partida nos limita, nos encasilla y nos impide crecer. Probablemente eso sea cierto. Lo que también es cierto es que ese mismo lugar, esa comunidad, o colonia, grupo o incluso nuestra familia, nos da raíces que nos dan la esencia a quien somos. Creo que el verdadero trabajo (y regalo) es encontrar el punto medio entre honrar nuestras raíces, quedarnos con lo que nos hace sentido, y al mismo tiempo, caminar y forjar nuestro propio camino.

[Ann Reinking · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books set in cultures and religions other than my
own. This book takes place in a Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn…..throw in three sisters acting like, well, sisters and I’m all in. Also, the food descriptions in this book are amazing! I need to find a restaurant to try some kibbeh and knafeh. I looked up recipes but, uh, they are definitely beyond my California girl cooking capabilities. Great book!

[Jennifer Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sisters of Fortune by Esther Chehebar is a story of three sisters as they search for love and a place in the world all along with the growing pains of adulthood. From a Syrian Jewish family, living in Brooklyn, the Cohen sisters find themselves in a tug of war between tradition and modern society, between what their community expects and what they want for themselves. Nina, the eldest sister, is happily single at 26 and ignores the talk of spinstership. Fortune, the middle sister, is engaged but wonders if she truly wants to marry her fiancé. Lucy, the youngest sister, is a senior at her yeshiva high school, and begins a relationship with an older man. Adding to the tug of war, their charismatic grandmother, Sitto, who fled Syria in 1992 and their mother, Sally, who is anxious about her daughters’ futures. Can the sisters truly find happiness while managing family tradition and their own dreams?
In her debut novel, author Esther Chehebar writes a coming of age story about dating, ambition and the immigrant community. Described as “hilarious” and “heart-warming,” Sisters of Fortune has themes of remembering where family comes from and looking forward to where they are going. While there were humorous moments; however, the story did not have much going on. The family dynamics were interesting as I have not read many books with Syrian immigrants; but I was bored with the sisters themselves. The story features each sister’s point of view. I feel Fortune and Nina had the most growth in the story. I felt for Fortune as she is unsure of marriage and feels inadequate. Nina feels the pressure to marry. Lucy’s story was just uncomfortable. Overall, the story wasn’t the hilarious, heart-warming coming of age story I was expecting. However, I do recommend readers check out Sisters of Fortune as it may speak to them in ways it did not speak to me.

Sisters of Fortune is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

[Jackie Sunday · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful wedding often comes with unanticipated occurrences.

Fortune was getting married with invitations sent to 800 guests. This was the first of three daughters to walk down the aisle and her parents were working diligently to make it a showpiece.

They were a happy family with the matter-of-fact grandmother, loving parents and three sisters: Nina, Fortune and Lucy. They lived in Brooklyn, a close community of Syrian Jewish families.

Fortune had a meaningful name related to luck. Even though she was marrying a good, solid man, she secretly had mixed feelings. She needed a boost of encouragement as she contemplated her upcoming role as a supportive wife and destined mother.

Her oldest sister, Nina, was now 26 and her mother was anxiously waiting for a proper suitor. Her younger sister, Lucy, a high school senior, was happily dating a 30-year-old surgeon in training. How could this be good? While the family appeared to be close, there still were secrets waiting to come out.

I was unfamiliar with the Jewish words and phrases used from time to time. I didn’t realize there was a glossary at the end and skipped over the expressions. Yet, I enjoyed the dialogues showing strong ties and traditions.

I admire how the author brought life to all the characters making it easy to visualize. For those of us with sisters, it certainly made you think about the influence of parenting. To my surprise, however, the end felt rushed.

My thanks to Random House and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of July 22, 2025.

[Cheryl Sokoloff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adored this book - in which we follow Fortune, and her family as she grapples with her upcoming nuptials. Coming from a traditional Jewish Syrian family, Chehebar’s story about Fortune, is based on her own life growing up in Brooklyn’s tight Syrian community, and details her love of Syrian cuisine (and food’s central importance in her) and Fortune’s life! ❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Show me sibling relationships, and I'll show you an immediate spot in the reading queue. Chehebar unquestionably delivers on the sister connections here and also brings some good overall content for readers who enjoy some good discussions of family, culture, and coming of age.

Three sisters, Fortune, Lucy, and Nina, grow up in a traditional Syrian Jewish household where the parents are in their business and the husbands can't arrive fast enough. While the sisters share important cultural and familial bonds, they are also all on different romantic cusps. Their differing situations cause them each to gain more or less acceptance from their parents and empathize more or less with each other.

I really enjoyed the way the sisters were developed individually, but I wanted more content about their connections with each other. This is present, just not as robust as I'd like (and I made assumptions based on the title and description that this would be more centered). I also liked the writing style and cultural elements.

Overall, this is a strong debut and I look forward to reading more from this author!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Will Lyman at Random House / Hogarth / Dial for this widget, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Stefani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this until like 70%? We were very in the moment, getting each sister’s present POV, and then suddenly everything felt like a summary? Time was speeding by, we weren’t in the day to day more. Everything felt rushed, brushed over, it felt like 30% of epilogue which was such a big change from the first part of the book and it really threw me off, which was a bit of a bummer.

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I originally gave this one 3 stars, but upon reflection I downgraded to 2 due to the plot line of high school girl with boyfriend (later spouse) in his 30s. I understand it may be acceptable in the community central to the book, but it was presented with very little awareness of the way most people, especially women, would view this relationship in the 21st century.
Decent writing and very interesting, I just can’t condone the plot line.

[Lisa Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This story of three modern-day Syrian Jewish sisters finding their place within their close-knit Brooklyn community has some nice moments, but the sisters' relationships aren't developed enough, and their stories seem to fizzle by the end.

[Zoe Zeid · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slow moving with some annoying characters. But I learned a lot of about Syrian Jewish culture (if it’s accurate… I’ll have to ask my cousin)

[Ivy Kaprow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being Jewish I am very drawn to Jewish fiction. I love seeing my heritage and culture in the pages of a book, and that’s what drew me to this. Nearly all of the Jewish fiction I’ve read has been about Ashkenazi Jews (Jews from Eastern Europe) so I was pleasantly surprised to discover this book is about Sephardic Jews (Jews from Spain, Portugal, Africa, the Middle East). While both Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews read the Old Testament and follow the Jewish religion, they have very different traditions and are essentially subcultures. Being Ashkenazi, I found reading about this family of Syrian Jews to be extremely interesting!
I thought the overall story was very good, though a bit predictable, though that’s a great romance for you. I loved how we got the perspective from all three sisters and how in each perspective we saw their relationships with not just each other, but also their parents and grandma.
As far as the narration goes, the narrators who narrated for Fortune and Lucy were wonderful. However, the one for Nina was one of the worst narrator’s to whom I’ve ever had the displeasure of listening. She was so horrible I actually Googled and discovered this is her first audiobook. On her Instagram she’s listed as a comedian, and maybe that’s so, but going by the morose and droning tone of ver voice I can’t really see that. I ended up having to speed up the narration to a 2.5 on her parts just to speed through because I seriously couldn’t take the lack of inflection, emotion, and life her voice gave to the character.
I seriously cannot believe this is a debut title and I cannot wait to read whatever else Esther Chehebar has for us. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy. I’m sorry it took me so long to get to it. Sisters of Fortune hit the shelves on July 22.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cohen family consists of three sisters, their parents, and their grandmother, all under one roof. They are a traditional Syrian Jewish family living in Brooklyn. One sister is engaged, one is "on the shelf" and one is graduating from high school, each as different from each other as they can be. Yet they rally together and support each other when needed. As they each attempt to branch out on their own, their mother's advice is: "People out there spend their whole lives trying to achieve what you've been given so easily: a strong sense of home, community, tradition. And not just that, but a feeling of safety." Or, as their grandmother Sitto puts it, ". . the presence of tradition in the home. That is where the seeds are planted, watered, and grown. . . tradition gives you a sense of home." This novel gives you get a keen taste of life in this Syrian Jewish community.

Via alternating chapters each sister relates the events from both their own perspective as well as the POV of the other members of the family. Their stories are engaging and I found myself rooting for each of them to reach their hopes and dreams. A very engaging family drama.

NOTE: There are a lot of Arabic or Hebrew words interspersed throughout the story, the vast majority of them the names of different types of traditional foods; others are exclamations of various sorts. There is a Glossary at the back that provides translations and phrases that use that word.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Will Lyman, Marketing at Random House | Hogarth | Dial, for the opportunity to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lior · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ✨️
~ I received this book as an ARC from Random House Publishing, thank you so much! ❤️ ~
it took me a while to get into this, but this was definitely a me problem because this story was so beautiful!
I know absolutely nothing about the Syrian Jewish community in the US or anywhere in the world, but as a Jew this still felt so relatable. this was the story of three sisters trying to live their lives torn between pleasing their parents and the community and following their own hearts. but it was also the story of a community, of tradition and culture and how that mixes with the desire of fitting in and finding your place in a new country. it was the story of immigrants and how they work so hard for their kids to have a better life than their own, and the kids then finding that the better life they want is completely different than their parent's expectations and what they think they fought for.
I had so much fun with this book, I even cried at the end. such a lovely story about sisterhood and family and love.
I thought the writing was beautiful, I loved the use of flashbacks! it was just a very real story told in a beautiful way.
I think this is an important story to read, especially if you like to read diversely.