Both Can Be True: A Novel

by Jessica Guerrieri

Two sisters reconnect on a long-overdue girls' trip to Mexico—just as a woman from their small town back home goes missing, setting off a chain of revelations that forces them to confront old traumas, fractured marriages, and the fragile threads holding their lives together.

Told in alternating perspectives, Both Can Be True follows Mare and Frankie—two sisters in their late thirties navigating motherhood, marriage, and identity in a post-pandemic world. Mare is the hyper-responsible older sister, mother of a neurodivergent preschooler, and married to a husband who's long since checked out. Frankie is a charismatic, sober bookstore owner raising two teenage daughters and struggling to maintain boundaries between her sobriety, motherhood, and the messy realities of womanhood.

Together with three friends, they embark on a girls' trip to Mexico to celebrate Frankie's ten-year sobriety milestone. But back home, their husbands go camping and stumble upon what they believe might be the body of Brie Hoover—a woman from their town and Frankie's AA circle. What follows is a slow unraveling of secrets and shifting loyalties, set against the backdrop of a deeply rooted female friendship.

As the sisters reckon with the emotional weight of caregiving, trauma, and who they've become outside their roles as mothers and wives, Both Can Be True Can we be good mothers and still want more? Can we love our partners and still feel trapped? And what happens when the support systems we've so carefully constructed start to crack?

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary, Audiobook, Thriller, Addiction, Mystery Thriller

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 19, 2026

About the author

Jessica Guerrieri (pronounced grrr-air-eee) is a writer and novelist who lives in Northern California with her husband and three daughters. With a background in special education, Jessica left the field to pursue a career in writing and raising her children. With over a decade of sobriety, she is a fierce advocate for addiction recovery.
Her award-winning debut book club fiction novel, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (Harper Muse), is out now. Her sophomore novel, Both Can Be True (Harper Muse), will be published in May 2026.

Reviews

[Liana Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75-4!

Two estranged sisters are pulled back into each other's lives when a woman from their social circle/town disappears. Frankie is an alcoholic but she got sober, became a bookowner but never confronted her past. Mere is a struggling mother of a neurodivergent child, a caretaker but is feeling the weight of it all as the loneliness is slowly engulfing her.

This is a story about compassion, sisterhood, addiction and shame that comes with addiction. I haven't read her debut, but know it had a lot of positive feedback. This sophomore novel is full of honesty and compassion and I enjoyed the narration immensily. Even though it's a bit of a mystery, I'd say it leans more on general/women's fiction.

Full REVIEW TO FOLLOW!


Narrators: Helen Laser, Mai Hutchinson-Shaw, Rebecca Lowman and Jessica Guerrieri
Duration: About 9 hours and 40 minutes
Speed: 1.25x


Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Muse Audiobooks and the author, Jessica Guerrieri for an early ALC!

Publication date: May 19, 2026

[Lauren W · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
A layered story of two sisters balancing their difficult childhood with current-day lives and a side of true-crime/mystery.

This book explores many deep topics— including addiction, trauma, neurodivergence, motherhood and identity— each topic is handled with immense grace and heart. A moving and thought-provoking read that highlights the importance of sisterhood.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sucked me in and I couldn’t put it down till I finished. Loved the female lead characters and loved the themes of motherhood, missing persons, estranged family, and old wounds. I was able to relate to both Frankie and Mere in different ways. This book does a great job showing how trauma in our past shows up in different ways. This book is very relevant to all women whether you’re a mother or not. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not quite seeing why this book is getting so many good reviews. The characters didn’t really grab my attention, and it felt like each chapter was just a repeat of the last.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy

[Elisa Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been eager to read Jessica Guerrieri since hearing about her debut The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Both Can Be True solidified her as an author who truly understands the complexities of the female experience.

This is a story of two estranged sisters, Frankie and Mere, forced to confront a shared trauma when a local mother goes missing. While the plot moves well, the real strength here is the character work. One (of many examples): the way Frankie uses reading to quiet the "noise" in her mind and find a sense of calm is something I think every reader will deeply relate to.
Guerrieri writes the inner lives of women with raw honesty, covering sobriety, motherhood, and the unspoken truths we all carry. I found myself thinking about the title constantly. The idea that we can be more than one thing at once (flawed and loving, struggling and surviving) is a beautiful central theme.

I alternated between the audio and print, but I highly recommend reading this in print. I never usually have the urge to annotate, but this book had me reaching for my highlighters. Make sure to read the author’s note at the end to see the deeply personal connection she has to this story.

There were parts of the book I didn't understand the why behind. This was a 5 star story that fell a little short in the delivery.

Overall, a beautiful, empathetic read that explores how we find peace through acceptance.

[Stephanie Wilen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did an immersive read for this one and the audio was really well done. Both Frankie and Mere were brought to life beautifully by the narrators, which made the emotional moments hit. Tears were shed.

The addiction storyline was the clear standout for me. Jessica Guerrieri writes it with warmth and understanding. Even as Frankie struggles, there’s this steady thread of hope running underneath it all that kept me invested. It felt honest without being heavy handed.

I will say, I was a little torn at times. There’s a lot being explored here and for me it started to feel a bit crowded. I think if the focus had stayed on addiction, motherhood and parenting a neurodivergent child, it would have felt more cohesive and impactful.

I also found myself wanting more balance between the sisters. I really connected with Mere and understood her. Because of that, I wish her perspective had been given a little more space. Frankie felt like the priority and a more even split would have made the story feel more complete.

That said, the vulnerability in these characters is undeniable. It’s deeply emotional, raw and rooted in the messy realities of womanhood, which made it a compelling read overall.

[Footnotes and Footfalls · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this sophomore novel from Guerrieri expecting a real standout. It’s a solid read, and I do think it will resonate with many women, but I had a few hangups along the way.

The central idea of women disappearing or feeling invisible in their own lives is such a strong premise. While it’s clearly what the author is reaching for, there’s a lot happening around it that pulls focus. The story weaves through sister reconciliation, addiction, sexual assault, raising teens, traumatic childhoods, and recovery, and at times it feels spread a bit thin. With so many threads competing for attention, the core theme doesn’t always get the space it deserves, and it can feel like the story is searching for its center.
A couple of political jabs and threads of ideology seemed inserted rather than organic, which felt a bit off-putting and unnecessary.

That said, I still found this to be a solid 4 star read. I think readers who see pieces of their own experiences reflected here will connect with it in a deeper way. At its heart, it’s a story about complicated relationships, survival, and the hard but meaningful work of finding your way back to each other.

[Leah M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guerrieri has a beautiful way of writing that peels apart all of the hidden layers of being a woman. She has perfected the themes of how women can get lost within their marriage and motherhood, how trauma can affect you for years despite ignoring or burying it, and how addiction can ruin lives.

BCBT covers a lot of ground through a lot of characters, and I have abandoned many books in the past because I couldn't keep track of all of the people in the beginning. Not this book. I truly was hooked from the first chapter, & I finished in 48 hours because I just could not stop reading.

BCBT is dual POV told through sisters, Frankie & Mere. Together, they have experienced their moms death from cancer and their dads journey with alcohol and mental illness. Individually, their adult lives are very different. Frankie is a mom to teen girls & she has been sober for 10 years. Mere has a young daughter who was recently diagnosed with autism and is consumed with keeping everything together. Their adult relationship has not always been easy, but when a woman disappears in their town, they find themselves pulled back together and are forced to revisit some of their old wounds. I spent much of this book thinking "how is this going to end?!" and I hope that you enjoy the emotional roller coaster as much as I did. It ended with me crying and 5⭐️.

🚩This book tackles topics that can be difficult for some, including sexual assault, addiction and grief. Check the trigger warnings, but also know that Guerrieri has a way of writing a fiction book that feels like a self-help book (I mean this as the best compliment).

Thank you Harper Muse for the advanced reader copy!!

[Pasha Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book pulled me right in! I read Jessica’s first book this summer and when I learned she was writing a second I couldn’t wait to read it. I love her writing style. She doesn’t hold back. She’s real and raw. I think this book is even better than her first. Frankie and Mere are both great women in their own ways. I could relate to both of them and at some points I was like Dang! Has she been inside my head bc I felt like she ripped a page out of my daily life. Being a woman and a mother is hard in today’s world but when we can lean on each other we can make each other’s lives better and this book shows just that. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rachel Floyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri has an important message about identity and acceptance, and I appreciated what it was trying to do.

However, it didn’t fully work for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters, as they felt somewhat underdeveloped, which made it difficult to stay engaged in the story.

That said, I did appreciate the way the sisters grew closer over time, as well as the honest portrayal of how crippling addiction can be. While the themes are meaningful— the execution just didn’t resonate with me personally.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley

[Ryan Brandenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This powerful novel delves into the complexities of sisterhood, addiction and its aftermath. I was instantly captivated by the intricate relationship between sisters Mere and Frankie, and I found myself engrossed in the narrative, finishing the novel in less than 24 hours.

The book takes readers on a profound journey, filled with raw emotions and heartbreaking moments. I believe this novel will resonate well with fans of Demon Copperhead and The Blue Sisters when it releases in May 2026. I would also predict a Read with Jenna pick!

Please be aware of the following trigger warnings: sexual violence and addiction.

[Janis Gerney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story line about two sisters and the challenges in their lives. I liked the chapter at the end from the third person’s perspective. Very insightful regarding alcoholism and having a child with neurodivergence.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOTH CAN BE TRUE by Jessica Guerrieri has been high on my anticipated reads list since it was announced. Her debut novel, BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, put this author on my must read list. I knew going in that this book would be gritty and unapologetically real.

Guerrieri does not shy away from the truth—even when it’s ugly and painful. In BOTH CAN BE TRUE she tackles the many ways women disappear by focusing on three women who are slowly losing bits of themselves. This is a heavy book with uncomfortable themes of trauma, mental illness, sexual assault, substance abuse, sisterhood, and motherhood.

Frankie and Mere are sisters whose relationship is stretched taut by the shared trauma of their mother’s death followed by their father’s slow descent into alcoholism and mental illness and eventual dementia diagnosis. Frankie is a recovering alcoholic tenuously hanging onto her decade of sobriety. Mere is the mother of a neurodivergent daughter whose entire existence is focused on accommodating and managing her child’s struggles. Both are lonely within their marriages. The disappearance of Brie, a woman Frankie is sponsoring through AA, brings simmering tensions to the surface.

I appreciate the honesty Guerrieri brings to her writing. Her own battle with substance use and personal sobriety journey bring validity to the character arcs throughout this novel. Her writing makes it easy to become invested in those characters as their stories play out on the page. I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding Brie’s disappearance, but it was Frankie and Mere’s all too realistic unravelings that captured my heart.

I paired the physical ARC with the audiobook narrated by Helen Laser and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. Their performances are outstanding and showcase the depth of feeling and pain carried by these characters. Readers should check content warnings as there are sensitive themes running throughout this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Muse, Harper Audio, and Book Sparks for the gifted advance copies for in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay wow… this book completely pulled me in emotionally. This is one of those stories that feels very intimate and character-driven where you’re not necessarily flying through for plot twists, you’re reading because these women feel real.

The story follows sisters Frankie and Mere and explores motherhood, addiction, recovery, trauma, estranged family dynamics and all the ways old wounds continue to show up in adulthood.

I will say there’s a lot happening in this book and at times it felt like a lot with themes and storylines competing for attention. I also found myself wanting a little more balance between the sisters because I was really invested in both perspectives. But honestly, the emotional depth of the story carried me through all of that.

Overall, this felt thoughtful, emotional, and very grounded in the realities of womanhood, motherhood, healing and identity. Definitely one of those books that gives you a lot to think about after you finish it.

Thank you Booksparks and Harper Muse Books for the ARC

[Paige- TheBookandtheBoston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was a sneaky little book that I started with a mild curiosity (okay more like medium) and ended up getting absolutely sucked into. While the book seems to be about a woman’s disappearance, said woman is a side character in this novel and her actual disappearance is more of a side plot. The real disappearances happen when the two MCs, Frankie and Mare - who are also sisters, lose themselves. Mare lets motherhood and caring for a neurodivergent child become her persona, and Frankie battles alcholism while raising her two girls.

I think what I loved most about this book was the depth and complexity of the two sisters. Having a family member who has had a similar background to and struggles of Frankie, I appreciated the author’s care to present what addiction can really look like, and what life experiences can bring someone to that path. I shed some tears while reading, and then even more reading the author’s note. Highly recommend this book.

𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑰'𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐:
Fans of literary fiction and family drama, mothers, and those who have struggled with alcohol or addiction -or have family/ close ones who have - but aren’t triggered by it.

𝑨 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:
I saw Helen Laser as a narrator for this, and requested the audio immediately. She doesn’t have big parts, but I really liked the other narrators for this, too. It was such a beautiful audiobook!

[Samantha Gencarello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley.

I went into this one thinking I would be gripped by the mystery aspect of the novel, but I could not have been more wrong. The book follows two estranged sisters, Frankie and Mere, who come together when a local woman goes missing. Each chapter alternates between their perspectives and we get a window into their lives.

Frankie is a recovering alcoholic raising teenage daughters and Mere is the mother of a neurodivergent daughter. There are a lot of heavy topics in this one .. addiction, sexual assault, parental loss. But man did Jessica Guerrieri weave such a nuanced and delicate story. I wasn’t sure I would really love it because I could tell the mystery of the missing woman wasn’t really the focus of the story, but Jessica’s writing captivated me. The relationships between mothers and daughters, sisters and friends was so emotionally well done.

I give this one 4 stars, especially because I was in tears at the end.

[Callie Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both Can Be True is a character-driven mystery following two sisters after a woman goes missing. I really enjoyed how raw and honest the characters were and found the pacing to be well done. The narration performed by Helen Laser, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Rebecca Lowman, Jessica Guerrieri was well done and immersive.

I received an ARC and ALC from Harper Muse and Harper Muse Audiobooks via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Gigi Ropp · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this one ends up being more of a family drama than a thriller, I really enjoyed the exploration of family, addiction, and motherhood. The author's own experience with alcohol addiction adds a gritty layer of truth and raw reality.

[Meghan Grober-Kratovil · Rating 3 out of 5]

A complex look at motherhood, relationships, and addiction is shown through rotating POVs in this novel. It is a glimpse into the lives of two sisters who are again impacted by a traumatic situation. While dealing with the current situation, there are consistent jumps to other points in their life where they tell stories about their childhood, college, early stages of marriage, having children, etc. This writing style is not for everyone and even I thought about putting the book down because of this style. In thinking of it more, the writing style really does reflect what goes on in our minds as our days unfold - present day is happening, but we are constantly reminded of the past. In this way, the book did seem repetitive and I could see people shying away from it before getting to absorb those profound moments we see later on in the novel.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book, it is beautifully written. Jessica writes with such an openness it makes it so easy to care for and want the best for her characters Mere and Frankie. What they are going through or have gone through we can empathize with, if not having been through similar or the same situations. It is not easy being a Mother, Sister, Wife, Caregiver, Friend, all to others without feeling lost sometimes.

Thank you to Harper Muse and Net Galley for the advance copy.
Pub Date: May 19 2026

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley.

5 ⭐️

“There is more than one way for a woman to disappear.”

The Gilmore sisters used to be close. Through the shared trauma of a terminally ill mother and a mentally ill father, they had to walk on eggshells while navigating grief together. Years later, Frankie still can’t believe Mare could have left her alone with their father with his mood swings and self-medication. He taught her well, in any case. Now a wife and mother to two teenage girls, her sobriety has become an integral piece of her adulthood. Mare has always been the responsible one, making sure everyone around her is taken care of and everything is always in place. But with a neurodivergent young child and a husband who seems content to let her keep control, she’s unraveling at the edges. When a local woman goes missing, Frankie and Mare are forced to confront the many ways a woman can disappear — in marriage, in motherhood, and into vices.

I loved this book. As a wife, as a mom, and as a woman, it highlighted so many of the burdens we tend to carry mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. The author was generous in her insights through the characters’ thought processes, and I found myself cringing at the beginning of some thought only to be soothed by the end of it. Addiction, sexual assault, mental load, societal pressures, parenting of both neurodivergent children and of teenagers, and issues within marriage are all handled with a tenderness that the reader can empathize with if one has been there, and can still appreciate even if they have not. In addition to these themes, terminal illness, mental illness, parental neglect, and death are mentioned and written with care in respect to the subject.

There were some areas that felt a little repetitive, but I do think it goes along with the experience the character is currently having so it made sense for a certain idea to be brought up again. That said, the plot is very character-driven and ‘The Disappearance’ is more of a catalyst than the main focus. I do wish we could have seen more diversity in the cast of characters, but I thought talking about the deaf community in relation to a side character was cool, however brief. The narration was well done, but I think the quality or volume between narrators was a little off because I could hear the difference with each change of POV.

The writing felt like something I’ve been trying to articulate since I became a mom, and it helped ease some of the ache; of being someone’s everything to the point of not feeling like you’re your own person anymore; of doing all the things and still not being seen by your partner; of navigating your children growing up while you’re still trying to figure out how to do life yourself. There were some aspects in particular that challenged me to get out of my own head, and I think that’s a testament to Jessica Guerrieri’s ability to capture something so many of us feel is elusive and making it real and worthy to be acknowledged. I cannot thank the author enough for the revelations the main characters came to that are guiding me towards my own.

I implore you, future reader, to not skip the author’s note at the end of the book. And bring tissues.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for this advance audiobook in exchange for my honest feedback.

[Nic Ru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello and thank you for reading my first review!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to advance listen to “Both Can be True” by Jessica Guerrieri.

A multi-POV story told by two estranged sisters, Mere and Frankie, dealing with loss, the consequences of alcoholism and addiction; first-degree and second, motherhood and the fear of slipping away and becoming “invisible” to those around them, oh, and small-town drama.

This book was written beautifully; with a rawness expressing how women lose themselves in caretaking and partnership without realizing it until it’s too late, and with an educated sensitivity to The Program. The multiple-POV perspective gives you a chance to see that in fact “Both Things can be True” and everyone can carry pressures and pain differently.

Triggers in the book:
- [ ] Death by cancer
- [ ] Talk of sexual assault
- [ ] Talk of substance abuse
- [ ] Suicide allusion, talk of disappearing
- [ ] If sensitive to masturbation talk and frontal exposure of male genitalia, both are briefly mentioned in the book.

Characters:
- [ ] Frankie, the younger sister of Mere, recovering alcoholic, bookstore owner, and the mother of two daughters. Her story takes us on the journey of where alcohol became a coping mechanism for her, and the hurt she carries from childhood and young adulthood. We learn about her struggles of not having a mother and how her sponsor, Pearl, filled that space. She’s the fun sister with a great sense of humor, with her story ultimately evolving into true vulnerability and letting her selfishness subside to be in the moment for others.
- [ ] Mere: older sister of Frankie, mother of a neurodivergent daughter, writer. Mere’s story starts off with her being the hands-on mother of Lilly, portraying the lack of support she feels from her husband, Dale. She is first a meek character, choosing to silently sit with her struggles and focusing her attention to Lilly’s full care, losing herself to the obsession of her child’s safety.
- [ ] Brie: Frankie’s sponsee, a fellow mother of a teenage daughter that grew up deaf.

There are plenty of other supporting characters that layer this book and its themes.

Rating: 4.75

Without giving more away and running into potential spoilers, I will tell you that I enjoyed this story and the evolution of women’s strength and relationships. There’s a strong theme of “living in the moment” throughout the whole book that every woman needs to hear constantly. The story also celebrates vulnerability and the permission to accept help when we need it, instead of pushing out weaknesses and pain away like we have been so programmed to do. I loved the themes in this book and the storytelling. You don’t see any of these characters as victims; you see them for what they are, and you root for them.

Not a perfect 5 for me because of small things I did not love. The recording of Mere sounded distorted and sometimes did not flow nicely with the other narrations of the audiobook, and I wanted a little more of Brie. Even though her story was given to us, I just wanted a dash of more. But overall, it was an easy-to-devour and get lost in book.

[Cennet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by how quickly this one pulled me in. With multiple POVs and a big cast, I expected to be confused, but the audiobook made each woman feel distinct and the writing keeps everything clear without ever slowing down. I always knew exactly whose head I was in and what emotional mess I was about to walk into.

Frankie was the character I connected with first. She is chaotic, funny, sharp, and trying so hard to keep her sobriety steady while juggling motherhood and a marriage that feels slightly off. Her inner spiral is written with so much honesty that it made my stomach drop more than once. She gets close to making choices she will regret, but the way she pulls herself back and owns her mistakes made me root for her even harder.

Mere’s chapters hit in a completely different way. She is carrying so much emotional weight. A neurodivergent child who needs her full attention, a husband who sees the world differently than she does, and a lifetime of feeling like the responsible one. Watching her slowly shift her expectations and find a more compassionate understanding of her family was one of my favorite parts of the book.

Brie’s storyline brings the mystery. You do not know what happened to her, why she disappeared, or whether someone is responsible. Her chapters are raw and uncomfortable in a way that reflects her trauma and addiction. The uncertainty around the men on that camping trip adds a steady hum of tension that kept me listening.

This is definitely a twisty thriller, but not because of shocking reveals. The twists come from the characters themselves. Their secrets, their pasts, their shame, and the ways they disappear inside motherhood, addiction, and the roles they are expected to fill. It is emotional, grounded, and messy in a very human way.

The audiobook cast is excellent. Helen Laser, Mia Hutchinson Shaw, Rebecca Lowman, and Jessica Guerrieri all bring something different to their characters. Their voices feel age appropriate and emotionally aligned with each POV. Frankie’s narrator captures her energy perfectly. Mere’s narrator has a more monotone and slightly muffled sound, but it actually kind of fits the exhaustion of her chapters. At times I struggled to pay attention to her because of this and I do wish she had a bit more personality. I listened at 1.25X and 1.5X and both speeds worked well.

The ending was quieter than I expected, but it fits the story. It is as close to a happy ending as these characters can realistically get after everything they have been through. It also leaves space for more stories in this world, and I would love to see where Janie goes next.

Overall, this is a character driven mystery with emotional weight, messy women, complicated relationships, and a slow burn unraveling that kept me invested the whole way through.

[Jennifer C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much to BookSparks, the author, and Harper Muse for the gifted advanced copy of this book in in exchange for my honest thoughts and participation in this book tour. Thanks also to Harper Muse for the gifted audio copy via Libro.fm. All opinions are entirely my own. { partner }
My reviews and content can also be found on StoryGraph, on Instagram @Tackling_TBR, on TikTok @TacklingTBR and on my blog at tacklingtbr.home.blog.

TW: death, substance abuse (alcohol and drugs), sexual assault

Wow.

It isn't too often then days that I pick up a general women's fiction read, since I'm so often distracted by my love of many other genres of fiction. While this book is categorized as a mystery, I would say that it fell (at least for me) much more under the larger umbrella of women's fiction. Either way, I loved every minute of it and I am so thrilled that I got a chance to read it.

This complex book explores many overarching themes relating to motherhood, womanhood, and sisterhood (both born- and found-family).
And when I first read the description of this book I was both very excited to read it and also a little bit nervous.

As a woman in today's society, and as someone who became a new mom within the last year, I am no stranger to the idea of disappearing in plain sight.
Making yourself smaller to fit into society or avoid drawing attention to yourself.
Losing the woman that you were completely behind your new role of "mom."
The constant mom guilt.
The shame that the world puts on us for being an imperfect person while also being a woman.

It can feel so lonely and isolating. What I loved most about this book was the raw look at these emotions and explored the relationships between a group of women learning to feel them and push through them all together.
This book felt like it was both permission to feel those things as well as permission to let go of them entirely, while encouraging you to find your way back to your own personhood and who you are outside of the influence of those other things.

I decided to tackle this book with immersive reading, so I read it while also listening to the audio. The group of women that narrate the audiobook (including the author) do such a phenomenal job with their performances, and it really made the book and characters come alive for me. I would highly recommend this style of reading, or would generally recommend the audiobook if you're not looking to take on both.

I would absolutely recommend this book. Truly, I finished it on audio while I was in the car yesterday and was worried that other drivers would be concerned about the crazy lady crying in the car next to them.

I am so thrilled to have a copy that I can come back to again in the future - I'm sure when I reach a new phase of life and motherhood I'll find another new thing in it.

[Read_with_Beans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the ALC of Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri, narrated by Helen Laser, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Rebecca Lowman, and Jessica Guerrieri.

This review is specifically for the audiobook. Check out my reel on Instagram (@read_with_beans) to hear my full thoughts on the physical book. - It was FIVE STARS!!!!

This book was absolute perfection. I loved the story with its elements of mystery, substance abuse, family drama, and so much more. I rated the author’s first book, “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea,” five stars, so the bar had been set extremely high, and this book did not disappoint. The author’s writing style can draw readers in, make them fully vested in the characters’ lives, and make you feel all the feels.

In my opinion, if the author writes an incredible book, then the audiobooks, if done as well, will only add to the reader’s experience. That was the case with the audiobook for Both Can Be True. The dual narration allows each narrator to showcase their exceptional skill set. Both are extremely talented and portrayed the sisters created by Guerrieri in their own unique ways. Both narrators had voices that complemented each other. Both narrators effectively conveyed the characters' emotions in their darkest and brightest moments. This book covers a lot of dark and serious topics and emotions, which the narrators conveyed in their own ways. They allowed readers to truly experience the emotions of the sisters, their husbands, and other characters. They each maintained a balanced tone, a steady cadence, and effortless expression in their voices. Overall, I feel this audiobook was well produced and featured talented narrators. Excellent job!

I would highly recommend this audiobook!

Audiobook length: 8 hours, 45 mins

Why you should read this book:
-The characters were well developed
-The writing was clean and crisp and wholly binge-able
-The plot was engaging.
-I tabbed and highlighted TONS of lines from the book, as there were so many important lines that I felt were too significant to forget or not want to reference and read again
-The author has an incredible storytelling ability that readers of all types, with all types of backgrounds, will be able to connect and resonate with her story and characters

[Candice Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌿🅼🆈 🅱🅾🅾🅺🅸🆂🅷 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂 🌿⁣
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Featured Book: 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 by Jessica Guerrieri⁣

🌟Thank you to partners @booksparks, @harpermusebooks, @jessicaguerrieriauthor, @netgalley, and @libro.fm for the immersive reading experience.🌟

Jessica Guerrieri’s 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 offers a complex look at how relationships in our families, marriages, and friendships shape our daily lives and futures. It boldly reminds you that the past is always present, shaping who you are and how you move forward.

The book focuses on the dual POVs of sisters Frankie and Mere, who have been estranged but are reluctantly drawn back into each other’s lives after a local mother disappears. This disappearance brings forth wounds, wide and deep, that force them to step into their past and excavate old demons, sibling angst, and shaky ground. Without healing this wound, these sisters will bleed these issues into their children’s lives, perpetuating the cycle. The author shows us this vividly, and that’s the point. Know better, do better.

As an elder sister, I connected most with Mere and the mounting weight of responsibility she carries. Plus, the task of mothering a neurodivergent child is exhausting, especially with a husband who functions as a second child, so marriage becomes more like a chore than a place of safety and calm.

I wanted to get to the plot sooner rather than later and be pulled in more quickly than I was. It took me some time to feel a true connection to the story. Once the information started to roll in, there were many plot points and subplots, and it became overcrowded.

What stood out most to me was Guerrieri’s ability to create female characters with vulnerability, realness, and rawness. Women who have been through real life and crisis. Life is not just lilies, rainbows, and sunshine—there is pain and darkness—and healing on the other side. I like to read stories that reflect real life.

𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲 is a heavy read, but it can show women the other side of healing, where love and comfort can coexist with pain and darkness.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🏷  #JessicaGuerrier #BothCanBeTrue #BothCanBeTrueReviewTour #BookSparks #BookFeature #BooksToRead #Bookish #Bookstagrammer #CandiceReads #CandiceReviews #HaleYeahBooks #wellreadblackgirl

[Ridhima · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to BookSparks and the author for the gifted copy of the book!

content warning: book mentions substance abuse and addiction, animal death, sexual assault and rape, death due to terminal illness, bipolar disorder, neurodivergence stigma, adultery

Told with alternating third person dual pov of sisters Frankie and Mere, Both Can be True was my first work by the author. From the start, I knew this was going to be a heavy read; with both sisters slightly estranged and each dealing with their own demons - Frankie with addiction and Mere with an isolating motherhood of a special needs child. The main story kicks off, however, when one of Frankie's acquaintances and AA sponsee goes missing, leading to ripples across the whole community.

While this may give off the appearance of a mystery, it most certainly is not one. The answer is evident almost immediately, and while we get flashbacks and backstories for each character in nearly every chapter, they are essential to understand why the sisters are who they are today.
There is also a good amount of spotlight on strained marriages, the incompetency of men, and the mental load a woman has to carry in many of her relationships.

Even though I found the writing to be beautiful and characters to be deeply flawed and layered, I also felt the author was trying to accomplish too much in a 300+ page book (see my list of cw above). The story felt rushed and messy to me as a result, and I felt like I couldn't focus on one character's struggles much before we were dragged into the others. Frankie also was not an easy protagonist to root for, which slightly lowered my overall experience with the book.

Still, the book is raw, emotional, and will tug at your heartstrings (be sure to read the author's note at the end for some insight). Recommended only if you're in need of a heavy read that gives importance to the bonds between family and friends, and the crippling insecurity one can feel as a woman.

[Chelsie Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There's more than one way for a woman to disappear. She can leave without packing a bag. Slip out so quietly no one thinks to follow. Or she can stay, stay smiling, stay small, stay busy, stay married, and vanish anyway."

Both Can Be True is a story centered on two sisters with a deeply fractured relationship, both of whom are attempting to find stability in the lives they've built. Mere, the oldest, is parenting a neurodivergent preschooler with a distant husband, and Frankie is balancing her family life and her sobriety on a shaky foundation of unprocessed trauma.

When a woman Frankie was sponsoring goes missing, she begins to blur the lines of sobriety while she navigates the uncertainty of the circumstance. There's an element of mystery softly buzzing throughout the story, but the main focus is on the complicated journey of numbing vs processing the complicated and painful truths that threaten to push an addict over the edge and reclaiming self when circumstances have stripped you of it.

This layered story is told from alternating POV, allowing the reader to have a more intimate understanding of what the characters were experiencing. This is a story of addiction, grief, acceptance, forgiveness, motherhood, and sisterhood. The author's first-hand experience with alcohol addiction is evident in the believable emotions and struggles each character faced.

I could relate so much to the way these women felt invisible in their lives. The complacency in their relationships, the loss of self in the vein of motherhood. The fractured sisterhood, too, was something I could easily connect with. But despite delving into emotionally charged topics, the book remains hopeful. It's a delicate balance to emphasize the weight of trauma without plunging the reader into a dark place, and Guerrieri nailed it.

Huge thank you to Harper Muse and BookSparks for providing me with an ARC of this novel!

[Angel (withangelxo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌱 “There’s more than one way for a woman to disappear. She can leave without packing a bag. Slip out so quietly no one thinks to follow. Or she can stay, stay smiling, stay still. Stay busy, stay married, and vanish anyway.”

No words can fully describe how I felt after finishing this book… just wow. It’s so well written: raw, emotional, and haunting. The quote, “There is more than one way for a woman to disappear,” resonates throughout the novel in both literal and metaphorical ways, reflecting the different struggles and experiences of not only the two sisters but other characters in the story as well.

The story follows Frankie and Mere, sisters bound together by the trauma of losing their mother and growing up caring for their mentally unwell father. As they grow older, each experiences their own turbulence of marriage, motherhood, and personal struggles, shaping not only who they become but also the distance that grows between them. When a woman in their town with ties to Frankie disappears, the sisters are brought back together and forced to confront years of unspoken resentment, buried pain, and unresolved wounds.

The novel dives deeply into sensitive topics such as substance abuse and alcoholism, showing how some characters use them as a way to “escape” or “disappear” from their realities. It also explores the theme of motherhood in a deeply affecting way.

In many ways, this novel feels deeply haunting because the experiences portrayed are painfully real for so many women. I found myself sympathizing with both sisters throughout the story. There were moments when Frankie’s actions frustrated me, but at the same time, I understood the pain and circumstances that lead to her actions

Overall, I really appreciated how everything came together in the end and the lasting takeaway of the novel!

Thank you so much BookSparks, Harper Muse, and the Author for this gifted copy! ✨🌱🫶

[Whatithinkaboutthisbook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri
Pub Date: May 19/26
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is an epic novel in its scope and in the depth of the issues it explores surrounding women and motherhood. The story follows three women - Brie, who has gone missing; Frankie, a sober bookstore owner with two teenage daughters, and her sister Mare, a hyper responsible mother of a neurodivergent daughter. All the women share a simmering dissatisfaction with their lives and marriages, burdened by the weight of expectations and a sense that the version of life their living no longer fits.

Guerrieri magnificently depicts how easily women disappear inside of marriage and motherhood, and uniquely, how they can also disappear inside trauma. Frankie’s and Mare’s paths are very different, illuminating the many ways women feel unseen and find their identity subsumed by their many roles. The characters are richly layered, and deeply complicated, shaped by histories and experiences that reverberate in their relationships and sense of self.

The novel offers compelling, realistic insight into addiction and recovery - how relapses happen, what thoughts and behaviour often lead to it, and what it takes to rebuild sobriety.
Mare’s experience of parenting a neurodivergent child is especially moving; portrayed with honesty, joy, grief, and guilt.

At its heart, the book emphasizes the critical importance of female friendships, sisterhood and community; the unconditional support that carries women through both their best and worst days. This is a slow burn novel, as it takes time to fully connect with all of the characters and their stories. Once it clicks, however, you can’t help but see yourself reflected in their growth, missteps, and honest reckoning.

Vulnerable and ultimately empowering, this exploration of womanhood will deeply resonate with readers. Despite its difficult subject matter it remains grounded in connection and hope.