The Cassatt Sisters: A Novel of Love and Art

by Lisa Groen

In 1877, the Paris art scene is very competitive for men but nearly impossible for thirty-three-year-old Mary Cassatt, an American woman. Bored by traditional methods of painting, she admires the work of avant-garde painters, especially Edgar Degas. So, when Edgar visits Mary's studio to view her paintings, she is exhilarated by his invitation to join him, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and other Impressionists in the collective.

Meeting the standards of the Impressionists is nerve-racking. Mary is judged not only as a painter but as a woman. She takes comfort in her close bond with her sister, Lydia, who often poses for her. But Mary's growing attraction to Edgar threatens to derail the plans Mary and Lydia have made for their future. When an opportunity arises to work side by side with Edgar, Mary begins a clandestine love affair that utterly upends her life and career.

In The Cassatt Sisters, author Lisa Groen paints a dazzling picture of Belle Époque Paris and the extraordinary life of artist Mary Cassatt during her time with the Impressionists. At the heart of this compelling historical novel is an age-old question: What must a woman sacrifice to live a life of freedom and accomplishment?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Art, Art History, Paris, Romance

271 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2025

About the author

Lisa Groen loved getting to know Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt in her first historical novel THE CASSATT SISTERS, coming in October 2025. She is author of THE MOTHER'S BOOK OF WELL-BEING, a book of essays for new moms. Lisa's writing also appears in the textbook THE FOURTH GENRE: Contemporary Writers of Creative Nonfiction.

Lisa holds an MFA in writing from The Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Writing. She lives in Utah and shares city and mountain homes with her husband and their dog, George Harrison. They have a blended family of five adult children and two grandchildren.

⭐️ Early Reviews for THE CASSATT SISTERS:

"The Cassatt Sisters is hard to put down, intensely revealing, and a work of art itself.”
- Midwest Book Review

"A well-crafted portrait of two famous artists, their suffering, and their joys."
- Kirkus Reviews

🖋️ Follow Lisa to learn more.
https://substack.com/@lisagroen
https://facebook.com/lisagroenwriter/
https://instagram.com/lisagroenwriter

Reviews

[Jann Alexander]

Lisa Groen’s The Cassatt Sisters is a fully immersive visit to the sights, sounds, and smells of an Impressionist painting in 19th-century Paris. So visual is Groen’s storytelling of the untold relationship between the long-underrated painter, Mary Cassatt, and her favorite subject, her sister Lydia, I longed to walk among them with the more famous painters who admired her. Cassatt’s troubled relationship with Edgar Degas, and her support from Impressionists Camille Pissarro, Gustave Caillebotte, Claude Monet, are illustrated in color with their paintings and offer a rich record in this poignantly-told story of sisterhood and love. A must-read for anyone who knows little of, or who adores, the Impressionist artists.

[May]

I have been a fan of Mary Cassatt’s work all my life. Reading a novel based on her life, family and struggles to be a recognized artist was a delight!!

[Jana]

I have been captivated by Mary Cassatt’s paintings for many years. When I saw that Lisa Groen had crafted a historical fiction novel about her life, I was keen to read it. Many familiar artists are presented in the story with Mary Cassatt, including impressionist painters in Paris during this decade of La Belle Epoque.

It is an emotional story of Mary, her sister Lydia and their parents in Paris as Mary paints her way through this world from 1877 to 1886. The primary theme throughout the whole book is, as the title suggests, love and Art. I understand so much more about the Artist’s journey in this framework of life.

The sad and heart rendering death of Lydia endeared this reader to the book through its emotional impact, and to appreciate even more the fact that Lydia was often the one who sat as Mary’s subject. Lydia and Mary‘s last lucid conversation before her death brought me to tears. “I realize every breath is an opportunity to be immortal.”

This is a wonderfully composed love story —sisterly love, family love, parental love, romantic love - told through the sheer realism of Mary’s work and paintings: beautiful children with mothers (which has been so sorely ignored by the art community throughout the millennia).

Groen paints a Mary Cassett who brings us a touching rendition of our mothering lives. Wonderful!

[Deb Kiley]

Great debut historical fiction story about Mary Cassatt and her time with the other Impressionists. Set in France in the late 1800s, it tells about Mary's experiences with Lydia, her sister whom modeled for her extensively, Edgar Degas, her colleague and lover, and a plethora of other famous painters from Camille Pissarro and Claude Monet. As a long time admirer of Impressionist art, I so enjoyed reading about the lives of these famous painters and the imagined discussions. Mary had the typical challenges for women when she was constantly bombarded with questions about her ambition versus having a husband and family. She was a strong character and had such a deep desire to paint regardless of comments by Degas and others. The story was well researched and the Author Notes explain what liberties the author took.
If you are a fan of art, strong women, and charming storytelling, I highly recommend this book. I rated this 4.5 stars.
#TheCassattSisters #BlackRoseWriting #NetGalley
Thank you Black Rose Writing and Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Catherine Stirling]

This novel has the magical, delicious ability to completely transport the reader. Without excessive or flowery language, the author paints the reader into the Cassatt family homes, artists' studios, opera loges, countryside scenes and - most memorably - the fantastical parties thrown by another notable female impressionist, Berthe Morisot.

I especially love the way the author captures the intimacy of family life - the dynamic between parents and their adult children, the unspoken understandings between sisters, the tenderness among family members when one is suffering, the daily rhythms of home.

The author also explores the relationships among artists that most of us more pedantic humans don't experience, characterized by admiration, encouragement, competition and artistic connection - the relationships between Mary Cassatt and her contemporaries explore all of these.

What I think I enjoyed the most was the novel's exploration of love in all of its forms: romantic, familial, maternal, artistic and compassionate.

I hope you lose yourself in this beautifully crafted novel just as I did.

[Roxanne]

My new favorite book. If you'd love to experience life with the Impressionists through the eyes of one of the great Impressionists, this is your read. I don't want to give too much away, but you'll love reading this one.

[Joan Donaldson]

Just as Mary Cassatt painted domestic scenes between a mother and children, or a young woman at the Opera, Lisa Groen has given readers an intimate look at the relationship between two sisters. One a rising star within the Impressionist community, and the other, a sister who grieves her fiancé’s death. Set in France during the period when the Impressionist artists were renegades, Mary is determined to make her living as an artist. She must prove her talents while assuaging her father’s repeated requests to marry and adapt to a more acceptable female role.
While readers may first view Lydia as the quiet supportive sister who knits in the garden and plans the family’s meals, she proves as tenacious as Mary. Lydia understands how to appease their parents while helping Mary with simple acts such as arriving at Mary’s studio with fresh bread, cheese, and fruit. As the novel progresses, Mary comprehends how Lydia serves as her muse. When her sister is ill, dust gathers on Mary’s easel as she dedicates herself to healing Lydia.
Readers will recognize the names of numerous Impressionist from Monet, to Camille Pissarro, to Manet. But Edgar Degas pulls Mary into an affair that reveals inner desires that she did not recognize in herself. Those emotions stimulate in Mary a greater appreciation of what Lydia lost, and how her sister has dedicated herself to advancing Mary’s artistic successes.
My favorite scenes in the novel involved the Impressionists discussion about their work and the moments showing the sisters deep love for each other and how that love motivated Mary. Readers who love historical fiction will revel in the storytelling of Lisa Groen as she captures the passion of the Impressionists and the two amazing Cassatt sisters.

[Gayle Brown]

A beautiful love story lights up Groen's first fictional novel, THE CASSATT SISTERS. Art enthusiasts and non-art enthusiasts alike will get lost in the beauty of the words, the paintings, and the bond between Lydia and Mary Cassatt. From the first page to the last, the reader is plunged into a world crafted so beautifully, I couldn’t tell what fact from fiction. The story unfolded before my eyes, written with such sophistication that I was instantly transported to Paris. If you're seeking a narrative about love that extends beyond romance and into the realm of familial ties, your search ends here. This is a debut novelist you don’t want to miss. I can’t wait to see what Groen creates next.

[Peter Rock]

The front door closed quietly enough. I took off my shoes and tiptoed over the floors in my stocking feet, making my way to my bedroom without waking even the cat. I lit the candle on a nightstand by the window and watched the flame flicker to life. My books appeared, and a cold cup of tea Lydia must have left for me. How strange the walls of my room seemed then, as though they had changed instead of me. Was this love? The thin floral stripes of the wallpaper, and the deep red drapery suspended over the window, the faint streetlight outside. The night sky seemed different as well — more familiar. I pulled the curtains closed.

[P.L. Jonas]

A Feast for the Senses
Lisa Groen’s writing transported me to the painting studio of Mary Cassat as if I were watching over her shoulder as she sketched her subjects, selected the colors, and made each stroke on the canvas. Groen’s eloquent prose put me right there amid the 1870s Paris art world: the sights, the sounds, and the smells. Cassatt, Degas, Pissarro, and Morisot were all fully developed characterizations of the actual artists. I felt like I met them and attended the delightful Parisian parties.

I knew about the rumors that Cassatt and Degas had an intimate relationship beyond their art endeavors. And had read Cassatt, had destroyed all of her correspondence between them and her personal journals and diaries before her death. This act alone opens the door to interpreting their relationship, and I think Lisa Groen did an excellent job in her fictionalized account. At least, it rang true for me.

I usually read multiple books simultaneously, but once I started reading The Cassatt Sisters, it was the only book I wanted to read until I was done. A truly immersive experience. A must read.

[Heather Zoe]

This story is both colorful and full of allure. Lisa Groen paints a world of impressions and anticipations that invite us into the very energy of her characters who seem to come alive on the page. The luminous artistry of Lisa's voice carries us to the heart of the relationships that unfold, making it very hard to put down.

[Hannah]

I didn’t finish, I gave up at 50%.

I was so bored, so uninterested that I just couldn’t keep going. I’m questioning my book club for having voted for this one …

Maybe if you’re into period romance books when a chaste look has to suffice as an indicator of burning passion, maybe if you’re more into art, maybe if you need a slow burn of a book this might be for you. But, my book club agreed that this failed on almost every level - the art world wasn’t convincing, the romance was dull, there weren’t any real moments of conflict. It tried to do too much and ended up failing on all fronts.

The 2 stars are for the research into the art world at this time, and the portrayal of Paris at its best

[Cam Torrens]

Just as Amor Towles makes you feel as though you’re reading a Russian classic in "A Gentleman in Moscow", Lisa Groen evokes Belle Époque Paris so vividly that you’d swear you were reading a French novel of the era itself! She writes intelligent historical fiction about the delicate balance of artistic aspiration with personal cost. Highly recommend!

[Terri L.]

Delightful!

Reading this book combined two of my loves… impressionist art and historical fiction. Ms. Groen brought the work of Mary Cassatt (in particular) to life and addressed questions about her life and passions to light in such a wonderful way, fact or fiction be damned. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more topics selected by Ms. Groen.

[Elise Schiller]

What a lovely book! While I'm quite familiar with Cassatt's work, I knew less about her life among the Impressionists in Paris and her close relationship with her sister. Now I know how many of her paintings I've seen featuring Lydia and other members of her family. It was interesting to discover how many concerns of a working painter are similar to the concerns of a working writer.

[John Kidd]

A wonderful read

For the duration of the time I spent reading this book, I lived and breathed with the Cassatt family through Mary's eyes. Mary wouldn't mind revealing in words what her paintings vividly already do. Very well written.

[Patricia Walsh]

Awesome Read

This was a great read! Being an art student and doing my art history project on Mary Cassatt, made this such a heartwarming lovely book. Well written with facts and fiction. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a great book to read.

[mark baker]

Love story,

Mary Cassett's paintings always appeared pleasant yet somewhat ephemeral. After reading this speculation about possible details of her life and relationships, especially with her sister, Lydia, they now appear heartwarming and glowing. A wonderful read.

[Katrina]

I am fascinated by fictionalized history.
Insights into the lives of famous people who lived so long ago.
Well written and researched. Characters are well developed. I found myself totally invested in the story.

[Amanda Forsting]

A fascinating journey into the studios where artists work and the social and familial circles where they draw inspiration. Groen uses masterful scenes to create tension between Cassatt and Degas while exploring the complicated bonds of sisterhood, and where these bonds might lead us.

[Wendi E. Sloane]

As an artist who loves art history, I enjoyed immersing myself in the mid to late 19th century Parisian art scene. I also had a lovely email exchange with the author, who was so gracious. I was interested in reading about the impediments women faced (and still do).

[Terry Gould]

A wonderful peek into the Belle Epoque, featuring the Impressionists.

[Charleen Stroup]

Delightful.

Bringing life to these historical artists is a great way to appreciate their work. Romance is part of real life and the artist inner world.

[Sally LeSage]

Lovely novel. Believable storyline. Inside the art world of Paris in late 1800s. Thoroughly enjoyed.

[Charlotte Farmer]

Delightful

What a joy to wrap myself around the art and life of Mary and Lydia. I have always admired Mary Cassatt’s paintings and now I love them even more.

[Cherene Mills]

loved it

Great acknowledgment of women artists. I now want to experience their artwork in person. Enjoyed your writing style and narrative.

[Laura Sterkel]

3.5 for this first-time historical novel of Lisa Groen about the bond between American Impressionist painter, Mary Cassatt, and her devoted older sister, Lydia. Supporting characters include Edgar Degas, Camille Pissaro, and Bertha Morisot. The time and setting is Belle Epoque Paris: the Paris Opera to artists’ studios to the aristocratic French countryside to the renowned gallery of Durand-Ruel. It is a charming, easy, and imaginative read.

[Victoria Deaker]

Art History come to life with words.

So well written this novel paints a picture of an important era in Art History. The Cassatt Sisters was joy to read, the inclusions of artworks were a delightful addition. I highly recommend this book.

[Meg Onthemove Reading]

This was read for a Book Club, and I think it is important to say up front that it is not a book I would have willingly chosen in a hundred years ....

American Mary Cassatt is an artist living in Paris, she's had a painting shown at The Salon, but like other female painters pre-1950s has had limited success. Her father wants her to marry, after all she's already 33 (which would be considered an old maid at the time) but she lives for her art. Then she sees the work of impressionist Edgar Degas, and is desperate to meet him. He becomes the great romance of her life.

The problem I have with this is that there is absolutely no evidence of this. So this is effectively an unreliable, romanticised first person biography. But Mary burnt Edgar's letters before his death? So did Jane Austen's sister Cassandra, and there's no hint of romance there, is there? It wasn't an uncommon thing to burn the letters of someone you regarded highly, as their letters would often show the petty, bitchy side of them and not the "great" man or woman.

Second problem, this novel has already been "done" a decade ago in the novel "I Will Always Love You", even down to the romance between Mary and Edgar, so it ends up feeling rather like fan fiction.

Thirdly I listened to the audio book of this novel, and there are multiple issues with it. The audio artist has problems with all male voices, making them all very deep. They also have problems with French Accents in general making them all outrageously over the top (I could have been listening to the British sitcom 'Allo 'Allo or Monty Python), which did make for a few giggles during this dreadful performance. Allied with this either the author or the audio actress had done little research into the accents - Camille Pissarro spoke with the same over-the-top French accent as the other French males except he was from St.Thomas in the Carribbean, and it was Danish at that time (and he retained his Danish citizenship all his life) so it's quite unlikely that he had the same bizarre French accents as the other impressionist painters.

Whilst the author had clearly done some research into the period, Paris and the impressionists ... It doesn't really work in a novel about art and painting to describe paintings and talk about the light in them and re-drafting them without lots of colour pictures showing what you are talking about.

It also doesn't work having your characters doing things that "nice young ladies" would not have done at the time, such as going to Absinthe Parties. While Mary clearly wanted to be "her own woman" the social mores of the time were so constraining that losing her reputation would have simultaneously lost her her art career, as none of the great and the good would have commissioned paintings from a female artist with a poor moral reputation, and this only changed in France into the next century for example when Coco Chanel (who had been the mistress of a rich man) started her career in fashion.

So not for me at all for a myriad of reasons, but enough to stimulate me to find out a true biography of Mary Cassatt.

[N.J. Mastro]

The Cassatt Sisters by Lisa Groen reveals to readers the inner life of painter Mary Cassatt during her rise to prominence as an American artist living in Paris in the latter part of the 19th century.

The novel is justly titled. At Mary’s side throughout is her only sister, Lydia, a constant whom Mary depends on more than she realizes. Lydia often sits as a model for Mary, who has thrown her lot in with the so-called Impressionists, artists defying the Paris Salon’s preference for traditional painting. And she is Mary’s closest confidante. Mary’s parents have also joined her in the City of Light and, like Lydia, feature heavily in Mary’s narration.

The story references a mix of impressionist artists beyond family, most notably Edgar Degas, who plays a leading role. Groen bases the plot in part on a rumored love affair between Mary and Degas. As the novel opens, Mary is smitten by the handsome Degas before she even meets him. His art and reputation as a fellow avant-garde precede him, and she is quickly swept up in his charm. Soon, however, Mary must decide not only what kind of artist she wants to be but whether she wants to entangle herself with a man, especially one like Degas. Degas has secrets.

There are many things to love about The Cassatt Sisters, among them the famous artists that emerge in Mary’s first-person narration as she paints her way to success. Besides Degas, Camille Pissarro is a frequent figure, someone Mary grows close to as a friend, along with Berthe Morisot. Other name dropping occurs—Manet, Monet, Caillebotte, to name but a few—all in a delightfully gossipy way.

The novel isn’t just about art. Groen paints a vivid picture of the settings as well—art, architecture, streets, opera halls, galleries, and restaurants all come to life. The lush sensory detail doesn’t end there. We can almost taste the food the characters nosh on, almost smell the sumptuous feasts they partake of, and almost inhale the intense scent of brilliant flower gardens.

Supporting Mary’s story in an even deeper manner, however, is the visual presentation of her paintings directly on the pages of the story, in color in the eBook, black and white in the paperback. I absolutely treasured this aspect of the novel. Not only did seeing the art in the text save me time having to look the paintings up online (I’m one of those who do that), it enabled me to stay fully present in Mary’s world without interruption.

I encourage you to pick up a copy of The Cassatt Sisters. The entire novel is a feast. Don’t miss it!

(Thank you to the author for an advance reader copy.)