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Both Can Be True: A Novel
When a local mother goes missing, two estranged sisters are pulled back into each other’s lives and forced to confront old wounds, fractured trust, and the many ways a woman can disappear in plain sight.
Frankie is the funny one, full of restless energy and sharp edges, the sister who got sober, opened a bookstore, and slipped into a version of domestic life without ever fully confronting the past. Mere is the steady one, the caretaker, a mother quietly unraveling under the demands of her neurodivergent daughter and the loneliness of a marriage to a husband who sees the world through an entirely different lens.
For the Gilmore sisters, losing their mother to cancer at a young age gave them a brief window of closeness they’ve never been able to reclaim. But over the years, a mentally ill father, the unspoken trauma of sexual violence, and the different vices they turned to for survival fractured their bond and created a divide of resentment neither of them could bring themselves to cross. When a woman in Frankie’s social circle disappears, the sisters are pulled into a shared reckoning and can no longer deny the past that has shaped so much of their present.
Set against the backdrop of a quiet Northern California mountain town, this gripping and emotionally layered novel unfolds in alternating perspectives, revealing the many ways women vanish inside motherhood, addiction, marriage, and shame. Told with raw honesty and wry compassion, Jessica Guerrieri’s sophomore novel is a story of sisterhood, acceptance, the unspoken truths we carry, and the redemptive power of bridging pain into connection.
Frankie is the funny one, full of restless energy and sharp edges, the sister who got sober, opened a bookstore, and slipped into a version of domestic life without ever fully confronting the past. Mere is the steady one, the caretaker, a mother quietly unraveling under the demands of her neurodivergent daughter and the loneliness of a marriage to a husband who sees the world through an entirely different lens.
For the Gilmore sisters, losing their mother to cancer at a young age gave them a brief window of closeness they’ve never been able to reclaim. But over the years, a mentally ill father, the unspoken trauma of sexual violence, and the different vices they turned to for survival fractured their bond and created a divide of resentment neither of them could bring themselves to cross. When a woman in Frankie’s social circle disappears, the sisters are pulled into a shared reckoning and can no longer deny the past that has shaped so much of their present.
Set against the backdrop of a quiet Northern California mountain town, this gripping and emotionally layered novel unfolds in alternating perspectives, revealing the many ways women vanish inside motherhood, addiction, marriage, and shame. Told with raw honesty and wry compassion, Jessica Guerrieri’s sophomore novel is a story of sisterhood, acceptance, the unspoken truths we carry, and the redemptive power of bridging pain into connection.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 19, 2026
About the author
Jessica Guerrieri
3 books196 followersJessica 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) is out now.
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) is out now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️ One of the BEST literary fiction novels I've read this year. This story is for ALL the women who have felt, might feel, or are feeling the weighted blanket of womanhood, motherhood and its expectations in our society. It's the quiet unraveling of motherhood that felt so spot on in this book, that makes this book outstanding on all levels. It felt as if someone spoke the words I was thinking out loud for me, someone who possibly lived in my head and felt what I've felt. Some parts of the story were a mirror of my life while others served as a comforting blanket. The commentary that speaks on what its like to be a mother and a wife will be relatable to many. Guerrieri writes with so much compassion, handling difficult topics with care--never sounding judgmental or downplaying any other topics. The candid narrative is heavy in trauma, addiction, abuse and mental load. The purpose of this book is not to explore but to HEAL. For anyone who is a sexual assault survivor, please note that this book is not graphic but focuses on the aftermath/the lasting effect of the assault and what life might be like moving forward.
Frankie and Mere are two estranged sisters, pulled back into each other's lives when a local woman from their town goes missing. Frankie is a bookshop owner, a recovering alcoholic sober for many years and a sponsor to the woman, Brie, who went missing. Having never confronted her past, this tragic event shakes everything in her life & she begins to spiral out of control. Mere is her older sister, a mother to a neurodivergent/autistic child, in a strained marriage, with a heavy emotional load carried all by herself. The sisters didn't have a great childhood, their parents had a broken marriage, their father was an alcoholic--their history is complex, layered with resentment but also a love that never dissolved between them two. They share a similar dissatisfaction and both are burdened by the weight of expectations. As Brie goes missing, the women begin to confront their past mistakes and although their paths are very different, their confrontations illuminate the many ways women and mothers feel unseen, forgotten and 'brushed under the rug'.
The characters are deeply layered and complicated. Guerrieri uses trauma to show how easily a woman's identity is lost and how a woman can disappear inside a marriage and motherhood. In Frankies case, a survivor of sexual assault, she used alcohol to cover her internal scars and cope with the shame and guilt that she felt for many years after the assault and during her alcoholism. There is a lot that is unpacked in the story that surrounds her alcoholism but the core is the relationship/sisterhood between the women. For years they have been at odds with each other, leading to a resentment that lingered. Brie's disappearance ticks off something in Frankie and she begins a spiral down a rabbit hole but this eventually pushes her to confront her past. And when she does, she comes to realize the transgressions and their imprints on her life.
Mere is a struggling mother to a neurodivergent child and a caretaker who feels the loneliness slowly engulfing her. Her lack of support is palpable, despite being married, she's the 'hands-on' parent who does it all, going above and beyond and over for everyone, except herself. She loses herself in her marriage, in her child's diagnosis and societal expectations. Unlike Frankie, Mere is the character I truly connected to because I, like Mere, have a neurodivergent child. I felt and feel what Mere has felt. Her story is a mirror of my own...There is so much in her story that I'd rather not spoil for anyone..but Meres story will really make you feel for her.
Jessica Guerrieri is a survivor of sexual abuse/assault and knowing these experiences are from the authors past, Guerrieri bridges pain to connection so effortlessly! It’s all so moving. I immensely felt drawn to both characters and their struggles and how they were written with raw honesty, tenderness and fragility yet never making the women appear fragile or broken. Instead, their strengths were highlighted all through out the book.
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
Frankie and Mere are two estranged sisters, pulled back into each other's lives when a local woman from their town goes missing. Frankie is a bookshop owner, a recovering alcoholic sober for many years and a sponsor to the woman, Brie, who went missing. Having never confronted her past, this tragic event shakes everything in her life & she begins to spiral out of control. Mere is her older sister, a mother to a neurodivergent/autistic child, in a strained marriage, with a heavy emotional load carried all by herself. The sisters didn't have a great childhood, their parents had a broken marriage, their father was an alcoholic--their history is complex, layered with resentment but also a love that never dissolved between them two. They share a similar dissatisfaction and both are burdened by the weight of expectations. As Brie goes missing, the women begin to confront their past mistakes and although their paths are very different, their confrontations illuminate the many ways women and mothers feel unseen, forgotten and 'brushed under the rug'.
The characters are deeply layered and complicated. Guerrieri uses trauma to show how easily a woman's identity is lost and how a woman can disappear inside a marriage and motherhood. In Frankies case, a survivor of sexual assault, she used alcohol to cover her internal scars and cope with the shame and guilt that she felt for many years after the assault and during her alcoholism. There is a lot that is unpacked in the story that surrounds her alcoholism but the core is the relationship/sisterhood between the women. For years they have been at odds with each other, leading to a resentment that lingered. Brie's disappearance ticks off something in Frankie and she begins a spiral down a rabbit hole but this eventually pushes her to confront her past. And when she does, she comes to realize the transgressions and their imprints on her life.
Mere is a struggling mother to a neurodivergent child and a caretaker who feels the loneliness slowly engulfing her. Her lack of support is palpable, despite being married, she's the 'hands-on' parent who does it all, going above and beyond and over for everyone, except herself. She loses herself in her marriage, in her child's diagnosis and societal expectations. Unlike Frankie, Mere is the character I truly connected to because I, like Mere, have a neurodivergent child. I felt and feel what Mere has felt. Her story is a mirror of my own...There is so much in her story that I'd rather not spoil for anyone..but Meres story will really make you feel for her.
Jessica Guerrieri is a survivor of sexual abuse/assault and knowing these experiences are from the authors past, Guerrieri bridges pain to connection so effortlessly! It’s all so moving. I immensely felt drawn to both characters and their struggles and how they were written with raw honesty, tenderness and fragility yet never making the women appear fragile or broken. Instead, their strengths were highlighted all through out the book.
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
April 17, 2026
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.
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.
December 6, 2025
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.
January 26, 2026
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
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy
April 28, 2026
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.
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.
May 23, 2026
Both Can Be True is a novel of women's fiction about the perils of addiction in a deeply personal narrative of auto-fiction representing a lot of the author's own feelings as mentioned in the end notes. There are many women who will appreciate this moving story about sisters going through very difficult times parallel to each other. This is a novel dense with heavy, hard to read topics relating to motherhood, sobriety, and womanhood. I think this will resonate with women struggling to feel seen as they navigate their own personal struggles.
I did not personally enjoy reading this book. I felt there were too many excuses made for the behaviors of some characters, and the resolutions felt rushed. I did not like that every male figure in the novel is to at least some degree untrustworthy. I think it would have been better served with a first person point of view to lend authenticity to characters' emotions and perspectives. The third person narrator often demonstrated strong emotional bias that felt out of place for the structure. There were many moments where I felt I had missed something, but it really was a time jump forward or backward in time without warning.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators were clear and very engaging.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperMuse Audiobooks for this ALC.
I did not personally enjoy reading this book. I felt there were too many excuses made for the behaviors of some characters, and the resolutions felt rushed. I did not like that every male figure in the novel is to at least some degree untrustworthy. I think it would have been better served with a first person point of view to lend authenticity to characters' emotions and perspectives. The third person narrator often demonstrated strong emotional bias that felt out of place for the structure. There were many moments where I felt I had missed something, but it really was a time jump forward or backward in time without warning.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators were clear and very engaging.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperMuse Audiobooks for this ALC.
May 1, 2026
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.
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.
May 20, 2026
Set against the backdrop of a missing person case, two sisters reconnect as long-buried traumas rise to the surface.
This was such a beautiful, layered, nuanced exploration of sisterhood, motherhood, marriage, addiction, and the ways the past shapes who we become. While there’s a thread of mystery throughout, this reads more like a family drama, which is exactly why I loved it. I was completely invested in these characters and their relationships. The audiobook is voiced by a trio of top-tier narrators: Mia Hutchinson Shaw, Rebecca Lowman, and Helen Laser. They knocked it out of the park!
Highly recommend grabbing a copy of this one!
Out now!
💚Huge thanks to Harper Muse and LibroFM for my gifted copy!
This was such a beautiful, layered, nuanced exploration of sisterhood, motherhood, marriage, addiction, and the ways the past shapes who we become. While there’s a thread of mystery throughout, this reads more like a family drama, which is exactly why I loved it. I was completely invested in these characters and their relationships. The audiobook is voiced by a trio of top-tier narrators: Mia Hutchinson Shaw, Rebecca Lowman, and Helen Laser. They knocked it out of the park!
Highly recommend grabbing a copy of this one!
Out now!
💚Huge thanks to Harper Muse and LibroFM for my gifted copy!
May 25, 2026
Thank you to Libro and Harper Muse for the ALC!
“Alcohol didn’t make people strong, it made them vanish…”
Frankie and Mere are sisters, estranged now but both scarred from their childhood. Frankie has battled for her sobriety, trying to keep her life on track for her family and the book store she has opened. Then there’s Mere, quiet and dependable, the caretaker for her neurodivergent daughter. When a local mom goes missing, the two women are forced back into each others’ lives.
This story was a gut punch and warm hug all at the same time, while wrapped around a mystery. If you have ever loved an alcoholic, a lot of the dialogue/situations described may hit close to home. Coming from that perspective, I really appreciated how raw and true-to-life Guerrieri told this story. Though there is the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a local woman, what really got me in this story was a different kind of disappearance - how one could slowly lose oneself to addiction or even motherhood. Every bit of this story - every sentence - was intentional, and had a bigger meaning in the grand scheme. Not your typical mystery, and definitely more of a slow burn, but incredibly powerful.
“Both Can Be True” is out NOW! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
“Alcohol didn’t make people strong, it made them vanish…”
Frankie and Mere are sisters, estranged now but both scarred from their childhood. Frankie has battled for her sobriety, trying to keep her life on track for her family and the book store she has opened. Then there’s Mere, quiet and dependable, the caretaker for her neurodivergent daughter. When a local mom goes missing, the two women are forced back into each others’ lives.
This story was a gut punch and warm hug all at the same time, while wrapped around a mystery. If you have ever loved an alcoholic, a lot of the dialogue/situations described may hit close to home. Coming from that perspective, I really appreciated how raw and true-to-life Guerrieri told this story. Though there is the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a local woman, what really got me in this story was a different kind of disappearance - how one could slowly lose oneself to addiction or even motherhood. Every bit of this story - every sentence - was intentional, and had a bigger meaning in the grand scheme. Not your typical mystery, and definitely more of a slow burn, but incredibly powerful.
“Both Can Be True” is out NOW! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
May 22, 2026
This book is a little bit page turner, a little bit “how is this going to end”. There were definitely unexpected surprises where I thought oh my gosh, I can’t believe she went there! And I mean that in every good way. Please do heed the trigger warning that she gives at the beginning of the book. Subject matter was so well handled and it’s really a beautiful telling of sisterhood but also life right now in our culture.
April 16, 2026
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.
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.
May 11, 2026
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.
March 4, 2026
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!!
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!!
December 15, 2025
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.
March 18, 2026
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
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
December 29, 2025
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.
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.
February 23, 2026
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."
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."
March 9, 2026
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.
May 12, 2026
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.
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.
May 17, 2026
I’m sorry to say that this was a total miss for me.
Surprising, as her debut, at least for me, was PHENOMENAL!
This one revolves around two sisters, as well as a circle of friends, their (ridiculous) husbands, their children, and multiple addictions… and support groups.
I had a really hard time keeping up with both who was who, and… what timeline we were in.
So, that did it for me. Totally confusing. One theme leaching into another. And when I thought we were in the present, somehow we were back when they were teenagers?!?!
Add in a missing friend and lots of drugs and alcohol… and here’s your story.
Don’t get me wrong. There were a lot of valid points and things going on in here, but, this one just didn’t grab and/or HOLD my attention. But…that’s just MY opinion. And, I seem to be in the minority here.
That being said, if this sounds like something you’d enjoy, please keep your eyes 👀 open for its release on 5/19/26!
Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri and narrated nicely by Helen Laser, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Rebecca Lowman, Jessica Guerrieri
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @HarperMuseAudiobooks for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
Surprising, as her debut, at least for me, was PHENOMENAL!
This one revolves around two sisters, as well as a circle of friends, their (ridiculous) husbands, their children, and multiple addictions… and support groups.
I had a really hard time keeping up with both who was who, and… what timeline we were in.
So, that did it for me. Totally confusing. One theme leaching into another. And when I thought we were in the present, somehow we were back when they were teenagers?!?!
Add in a missing friend and lots of drugs and alcohol… and here’s your story.
Don’t get me wrong. There were a lot of valid points and things going on in here, but, this one just didn’t grab and/or HOLD my attention. But…that’s just MY opinion. And, I seem to be in the minority here.
That being said, if this sounds like something you’d enjoy, please keep your eyes 👀 open for its release on 5/19/26!
Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri and narrated nicely by Helen Laser, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Rebecca Lowman, Jessica Guerrieri
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @HarperMuseAudiobooks for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!
And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷
May 16, 2026
Sisters Mere and Frankie Gilmore have been through a lot in their lives. In fact they are still in the thick of it, but sadly they’ve grown apart from each other. With their father’s health declining, marriage struggles, the complexities of parenthood, and now a missing friend, they have the opportunity to show up for each other again 🥹
Oof, this book really hits hard. The trauma these women have experienced comes to us through their internal dialogue and through flashbacks, and we can see its lasting effects as an undercurrent throughout their lives. But we can also see their strength, and it’s so beautiful 💚
🎧 The audiobook is multicast and what a cast it is! All three are favorites of mine and any one of them can carry a book. All together? 🫶🫶🫶 They all brought such realness to the story, I feel like I was truly inside the characters’ minds. It says a lot about both the performance and the writing to feel that way when the story isn’t even written in first person.
I read Jessica Guerrieri’s debut last year, and both books are similar in their authentic depiction of raw emotion and the healing that can come from human connection, especially connection with family. Anyone who is a sister, daughter, mother, friend, really any human, will get something out of her writing. I can’t wait to see what she gives us next 💚
Thank you to Harper Muse for the early copies!
Oof, this book really hits hard. The trauma these women have experienced comes to us through their internal dialogue and through flashbacks, and we can see its lasting effects as an undercurrent throughout their lives. But we can also see their strength, and it’s so beautiful 💚
🎧 The audiobook is multicast and what a cast it is! All three are favorites of mine and any one of them can carry a book. All together? 🫶🫶🫶 They all brought such realness to the story, I feel like I was truly inside the characters’ minds. It says a lot about both the performance and the writing to feel that way when the story isn’t even written in first person.
I read Jessica Guerrieri’s debut last year, and both books are similar in their authentic depiction of raw emotion and the healing that can come from human connection, especially connection with family. Anyone who is a sister, daughter, mother, friend, really any human, will get something out of her writing. I can’t wait to see what she gives us next 💚
Thank you to Harper Muse for the early copies!
May 25, 2026
This is a tender and roving inside portrait of sisterhood, friendship, and strength in the face of adversity. Frankie and Mere are sisters, dealing with the aftermath of a sick father, deceased mother, and different life paths than they ever expected. When Frankie is slated to celebrate ten years of sobriety, her sponsee, Brie, goes missing, and she feels guilty and responsible for the circumstances leading up to such a thing. Told in alternating POVs, this one has several strengths. I liked both sisters a lot, and could tell Guerrieri truly planned out how she wanted each woman's personality to be. As someone also approaching ten years sober, I ADORED the program talk, and there were genuinely tear jerking moments at the end. While some bits felt repetitious and didn't add as much as others, I think this literary fiction with mystery/ thriller components will be perfect for fans of gritty books with happy endings. Thank you so much to Booksparks for sending me this as part of the SRC26 campaign. All opinions are entirely my own. @BookSparks @JessicaGuerrieriAuthor #SRC2026 #TheBookOdyssey
May 7, 2026
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
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
May 5, 2026
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!
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!
May 25, 2026
Like with her characters in Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, I had a very hard time connecting with anyone in this book. I think maybe that is the point. Her books are steeped in addiction and recovery so I think if you have never lived through those things, its hard to understand the choices that a person who is, would make. The choices that these characters make leave me feeling very frustrated and uncomfortable. There were lots of things in this one that I couldn't quite understand, but that doesn't make it any less valuable to read about. The frustration I feel during a book like this lets me know that it was well written because it feels like I am carrying their heavy emotions.
There are lots of potential triggers in this one. I would definitely check that out before diving in. There also is a handful of F words...like around 10 I think.
There are lots of potential triggers in this one. I would definitely check that out before diving in. There also is a handful of F words...like around 10 I think.
May 16, 2026
4⭐️Wow! This is a good one! I read this a few days ago and needed to take a minute to think on it. This book follows two sisters, Frankie and Mere, who have been estranged for quite some time. Charasmatic Frankie is a mom of 2, owns a bookstore, and is a recovering addict trying to rebuild her life. Mare is a mother of a neurodivergent child and is a wife who appears to have a more stable life than Frankie, but is quietly falling apart. She struggles with resentment and unmet needs. They are two sisters who had the same childhood, but have completely different truths. Then, a woman in their town goes missing. The missing woman acts as a mirror-reflecting a buried past that the sisters never agreed on and forces them to face the question of who has the correct version of the truth. I really enjoyed this one! This comes out on May 19th! Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2026
Thought provoking and heart wrenching.
Estranged sisters, Mare and Frankie, go on a girl’s trip with three additional friends to celebrate Frankie’s 10 years of sobriety. Meanwhile the husbands take a camping trip where they discover a dead woman who has connections to Frankie. Through alternating points of view the story gently reveals the secrets and inner turmoil of these sisters.
This is a moving story told with honesty and compassion exploring motherhood, marriage, addiction and the importance of family.
The audio narration was fantastic performed by Helen Laser, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Rebecca Lowman, and Jessica Guerrieri
Thank you Netgalley, Harper Muse Audio Books, and the author for this ALC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on May 19, 2026
Estranged sisters, Mare and Frankie, go on a girl’s trip with three additional friends to celebrate Frankie’s 10 years of sobriety. Meanwhile the husbands take a camping trip where they discover a dead woman who has connections to Frankie. Through alternating points of view the story gently reveals the secrets and inner turmoil of these sisters.
This is a moving story told with honesty and compassion exploring motherhood, marriage, addiction and the importance of family.
The audio narration was fantastic performed by Helen Laser, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Rebecca Lowman, and Jessica Guerrieri
Thank you Netgalley, Harper Muse Audio Books, and the author for this ALC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on May 19, 2026
April 28, 2026
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.
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.
May 25, 2026
Soooo good, couldn’t stop once I started.
Love a good quit lit but this pulled me in once I started knowing the background of the author once hearing her speak on sober motivation.
The writing was great and the way I could relate on so many levels sucked me in more. 🥹💔❤️🩹
Love a good quit lit but this pulled me in once I started knowing the background of the author once hearing her speak on sober motivation.
The writing was great and the way I could relate on so many levels sucked me in more. 🥹💔❤️🩹
May 20, 2026
Overall this was an ok book. But it was very slow and was more about the sisters relationship and the dealings with addiction then the death of a fellow friend. Bries death was more of an afterthought.
I read via the audiobook and the narrator was ok but like I stated it was very slow
Thank you NetGalley for the copy
I read via the audiobook and the narrator was ok but like I stated it was very slow
Thank you NetGalley for the copy
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