Both Can Be True: A Novel

by Jessica Guerrieri

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.

 

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary

349 pages, Kindle Edition

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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!!

[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."

[Kelsey reviews•books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a slower paced book, but it has mystery, complex relationships, and a deeper look at the struggles of addiction as a woman with trauma. I hope more people read this!

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★.5 out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. This book comes out May 19, 2026
─────────────────────────

○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– About: 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.
Mere, the older sister, is the steady one, the caretaker, the mother quietly unraveling under the demands of a neurodivergent daughter and the loneliness of a marriage to a husband who sees the world through an entirely different lens.
Frankie, the younger sister, 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.
– Location: Northern California
– POV: Dual third-person
– Spice: This is not a romance. But there are recollections of rape (not super graphic), so please check the content warnings and decide if this is something you should skip or mentally prepare yourself for.
– Tropes: estranged sisters, complex female friendships, addiction/alcohol recovery, dysfunctional family dynamics, generational trauma, healing
– Content warning: grief, missing person, substance abuse, various sexual assault mentions (briefly on-page but impactful), borderline infidelity, parental neglect, guilt, mental illness (bipolar disorder; not a MC), self-medication, accidentally hitting wildlife with your car
– Representation: Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, LGBTQ+ main character, raising a child on the Autism spectrum, main female characters in their 40s

─────────────────────────

↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: Breathe Me by Sia

╰┈➤ ❝Ouch, I have lost myself again; Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found; Yeah, I think that I might break; Lost myself again and I feel unsafe❞

─────────────────────────

★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★

➼ The motherhood, addiction, and recovery vibes from The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff, but set in the recent past and focusing more on female recovery
➼ Literary fiction about flawed women who are self-aware because they continuously are working on themselves, even if part of that journey is/has been avoidance

─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven——✧—————————Plot Driven
Light/Fluffy————————✧———Heavy/Emotional

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

Wow, this was stunning. This book wasn’t flowery with its topics of complex relationships, deeply flawed characters, or the ways in which being a woman contributes to both of those things; at times it made me feel uncomfortable (but in a good way) and it certainly made me see womanhood and motherhood from a different light. Women are just so resilient.

I loved the relationship between Mere and Frankie. It wasn’t perfect nor perfected. It was realistic and the love was deep but muddied. Each of these women’s ability to look at the people around them and analyze what was needed (even if it wasn’t always right) was breathtaking. And this was all due to the way the author wrote the story.

I won’t lie though. There were times that the pacing was too slow for my attention span. But they were short spurts. I love that this was a mystery without being a true thriller. It was nuanced and layered and paralleled the ways in which a woman can lose herself, even if she’s still “around”.

Even if you don’t love books about recovery or addiction, I think this was so poignant and a great example of limitations and self-realization.

I highly recommend this one! Just be aware that if you are expecting fast-paced, this will not meet those expectations. Read this when you’re looking for a book that slowly peels back its layers.

•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•

[BethOnThePage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri — 4 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this devastatingly beautiful novel.

Both Can Be True follows sisters Mere and Frankie, whose mother died when they were young and whose father, struggling with mental illness and substance abuse, left them to grow up far too fast. Both girls were forced into adult roles before they were remotely equipped for them, and the damage of that kind of childhood doesn’t disappear with age. It settles deep, leaving behind trauma, grief, and emotional scars that shape the women they become.

By adulthood, both sisters are married with children of their own, but they are no longer close. Frankie married young and has two daughters. Mere married later and has one young neurodivergent daughter, and her life feels defined by constant vigilance. Mere is stretched thin by caregiving, depleted by the endless state of hyper-awareness motherhood can demand, and haunted by the feeling that she has disappeared inside her own life. She is exhausted, hollowed out, and desperate to feel like a whole person again.

Frankie, meanwhile, once turned to alcohol to steady herself when life felt unmanageable. She got sober but the disappearance of her AA mentee threatens to unravel the fragile control she has fought so hard to build. Guerrieri captures addiction and recovery with painful precision. One line in particular says so much in so few words: “Alcohol didn’t make people brave — it made people vanish.”

What makes this novel hit so hard is not just the pain these sisters carry, but how thoroughly they have buried it. Mere and Frankie have spent years pressing down their abandonment, grief, fear, and longing, building walls not only against each other, but against their spouses, their memories, and themselves. Guerrieri writes so beautifully about the cost of that emotional self-protection: “The wall kept things out. But it also kept things in. Joy. Grief. Longing. Love. It turns out walls don’t just protect you from hurt. They protect you from being known. And not being known is its own kind of loneliness.” That idea sits at the heart of this story.

Guerrieri has described her work as autofiction, drawing in part from her own experiences with addiction and sexual assault, and that truth is palpable on the page. The writing feels raw, intimate, and deeply lived-in. Nothing about this story feels manufactured. It is heartbreaking, yes, but also full of grace and insight about what unresolved trauma does to people, to families, and to the versions of ourselves we become in order to survive.

At its core, Both Can Be True is about the lasting effects of unaddressed trauma, and about what it takes to finally stop carrying old pain alone. It is about unburdening, about presence, and about the quiet but life-changing power of being truly known. As Guerrieri writes, “As long as we keep looking out for one another, as long as we stay present, we are never really alone.”

It’s a heart-wrenching and beautiful novel.

[Bbecca_marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Both Can Be True🌲Book Review 📖 thank you @booksparks @harpermusebooks for the gifted arc!

Both Can Be True
by Jessica Guerrieri
out 5/19/26!
2.5⭐️ rounded up

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.

🌲 My thoughts:

What I found in this one was an emotional unraveling of sisterhood, motherhood, and the ways women disappear. This wasn’t a book I could fly through, but that felt intentional. The complexity of the sisters’ relationship felt raw, messy, and deeply real, in a way that really stayed with me. There’s so much unspoken hurt between them, and watching it slowly come to the surface was both heavy and meaningful. As a mother, parts of this hit especially close to home, capturing how easy it is to lose pieces of yourself and have to find your way back. It’s not always an easy read, but it feels honest in a way that matters. The emotional depth and layered story made it feel more like a journey. This is the kind of book that will really resonate with the right reader. Unfortunately for me it felt a tad repetitive and maybe a little too long but it could be that I found it at the wrong time. It is definitely one to pick up if you’re in the mood for something more introspective and emotionally driven.

What to expect 👇🏽
✨Complex family dynamics
✨Motherhood + identity
✨Emotional/character-driven
✨Slow burn pacing
✨Past trauma + healing
✨Missing person subplot

Happy reading 📖 🌲✨
#bothcanbetruereviewtour

[Angie Miale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sad and beautiful story about all the different ways that women disappear and how we show up for each other when the men in our lives fail us.

Told in alternating POV, this novel follows Mere, a mom to Lily, and her sister Frankie, mom to Chloe and who is sober. Together they are taking care of their ailing father and bearing the mental load of their families. Then another mom goes missing, and the story follows not only what happened to her but all the secrets and hopes the women carry.

I love Jessica Guerreri’s writing, it is a mixture of deliberate symbolism and intriguing plot. It is sneakily feminist while exploring themes of motherhood and presence. Even the minor characters stand out in this story, some of the most touching scenes belong to those on the periphery. One of the gifts that sobriety brings is the privilege of being fully present for the pain, the joy and the miracle of everyday life.

This year I celebrated 14 years of sobriety in AA, and I work an active program. The role that AA plays in this story is very respectful without being overly positive. I love how Frankie’s sobriety journey isn’t linear. It’s a tradition that goes throughout sponsorship lines, and different people have different ways of doing things, with a variety of ways to interpret the work and the overall program. I’ve sponsored many women over the years, and without spoiling the story, I can definitely attest that this can be a roller coaster. And yet, this is how we stay sober. We get to keep it by giving it away. AA isn’t the only way to get sober, but it’s the way that worked for me.

I think that women- like myself- will see themselves in these pages and will start to question of numbing the stress of motherhood is really worth it after all.

At times I found Frankie to be controlling and even cringy in her talking to her daughter Chloe about her relationship. I’m always pretty critical of “purity culture” in books and while it made me uncomfortable, it made sense for the character arc and the experiences the reader later learns about Frankie.

At the end of the day we all want to be seen and loved for who we are.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC. Book to be published May 18, 2026.

[Kristy King-Pritzl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both Can Be True is a quiet, devastating novel about the ways women disappear—into addiction, into motherhood, into marriage, into the stories they tell themselves to survive. When a local mother goes missing in a small Northern California mountain town, two estranged sisters are forced back into each other’s orbit, confronting not just the mystery at hand but the long history of grief and silence that fractured their relationship years earlier.

Frankie and Mere are shaped by the same losses but hardened by different choices. Frankie—sober now, restless and sharp-edged—has built a life that looks stable on the outside without ever fully reckoning with the past. Mere, the “steady” sister, is quietly unraveling under the weight of caretaking: her neurodivergent daughter, her emotionally distant marriage, and a life that values efficiency over tenderness. Guerrieri’s writing is full of moments that land like truths you didn’t know you were carrying—at one point noting that “it turns out walls don’t just protect you from hurt. they protect you from being known,” a line that feels like a thesis for both sisters’ emotional lives.

Like Guerrieri’s first novel, this one is uncomfortable in the best way. It asks readers to sit with the things we don’t say out loud—about active addiction, sexual violence, shame, and the ways women learn to minimize themselves to survive. The story resists clean answers, instead offering hard-earned insight, including the idea (articulated beautifully in another line from the book) that partnership isn’t about perfection or efficiency, but about “building a life that could hold the fragile things—together.”

What stayed with me most is how familiar this disappearance feels. The novel returns again and again to the idea that women can vanish without ever leaving—slowly dissolving into obligation, trauma, and silence—and it does so with a compassion that never feels sentimental. Both Can Be True is raw, emotionally layered, and deeply humane, a story that breaks your heart precisely because it recognizes how common these losses really are.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Harper Muse for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

Both Can Be True is one of those quietly powerful, emotionally layered reads that sneaks up on you.

This story centers on two estranged sisters pulled back together after a woman goes missing, and while there’s a mystery thread running through it, this is really a character-driven novel about sisterhood, grief, trauma, and the many ways women slowly disappear inside their lives. I found myself far more absorbed by the emotional undercurrents than the plot itself, and that’s where this book shines.

Jessica Guerrieri writes with a raw, compassionate honesty that feels intimate and deeply human. The alternating perspectives worked beautifully, adding layers to the sisters’ fractured relationship and making their pain feel authentic rather than dramatic. This isn’t a fast, twisty thriller. it’s a slower, reflective read that sits with heavy themes like motherhood, addiction, and unresolved childhood wounds.

I also loved learning that Jessica Guerrieri pulled from her own life experiences when writing this novel. That real-world perspective gives the story a grounded, heartfelt authenticity that makes the sisters’ struggles feel genuine and deeply felt.

If you enjoy thoughtful, emotionally rich stories about complicated women and strained family bonds, this one is absolutely worth picking up. It lingered with me long after I finished, in a quiet, meaningful way.

A big thank you to Harper Muse for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.


Favorite quotes:

~ …It held the weight of connection. It was the kind of inheritance passed quietly between women. Between mothers and daughters. Between the family we’re born into and the one we choose. A handoff not of possessions, but of presence. A reminder that showing up was enough.

~ …Between memory and presence, silence and care, loss and the choice to go on. Because something is passed between women. It tells us-whispers, really, whenever we are ready to listen-that as long as we we don’t allow ourselves to fully disappear, as long as we keep looking out for one another, as long as we stay present, we are never fully alone.

[Lynn Krueger-Andes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperMuse and BookSparks for advanced reader copies (eARC and physical) of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book and sobbed at the end, which to me is the sign of an incredible book. I love books that make me feel and this one hit all those notes! As a non-drinking mother of young children, this book SPOKE to me. I highlighted and annotated so many parts of this book because I could relate on so many levels. Frankie, sober for nearly a decade, is reeling because her sponsee, Brie, goes missing. She is struggling to assuage her guilt, as well as truly face her uncomfortable emotions linked to this as well as her prior trauma(s). Mere, her sister, is drowning herself--trying to balance a neurodivergent small child with a husband who does not help carry the emotional labor in a way that makes Mere feel seen. This book centers on the invisibility of womanhood and motherhood, with a focus around drinking culture in motherhood, sobriety, wanting to feel seen and heard, and basically just wanting to matter. I wish I could summarize everything this book is in one tight review, but honestly, it's difficult for me to put into words how much this book speaks to womanhood and motherhood, particularly as someone who is in their fifth year of sobriety. I will absolutely be reading Guerrieri's first novel, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, as I can see that these stories speak to me on a deep level, and I cannot wait to FEEL again, the way I did with this book. The ending to this one absolutely took me OUT and I was sobbing. Literally wiping away ugly tears, which to me means A++ 5 stars! Love this book and highly recommend it!!

So many incredible topics were explored and handled deftly, including:
Sobriety and addiction
Female friendships
The female experience
The loneliness of motherhood
Marriage and emotional labor
Trauma
Mental health
Neurodivergence in children
Deafness and cochlear implants
True crime in society

[Katie Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.***

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a story of the unbreakable bond of sisterhood, the definition of a woman, redemption and addiction in all forms. Told from the point of view of sisters Mere and Frankie, a missing local woman Brie brings them together as they search for answers.

Even after the death of their mother, the sisters had a strong bond until the oldest Mere went to college, leaving Frankie behind to care for their alcoholic and mentally unstable father. This book explores the aftermath years later, as the sisters struggle in their individual lives.

I enjoyed the fragile relationship between the sisters and how they each held on to their resentment and pain. Their stories were told beautifully. The struggles they each endured and how their childhood and trauma shaped their future seemed very realistic and relatable. As a mom of three, I understood their struggle to be a woman, not just a mom or wife, but a person with her own needs and wants.

The reason I couldn't rate this book higher is because of the side characters and camping trip. Although I appreciate each sister having a best friend, it tended to overshadow the main story and take away from their personal growth. Avery and Janey's side stories were too much. It ruined the flow when suddenly we had a friendship update. I struggled keeping the characters straight in the beginning because there were too many husband/wife relationships being discussed especially related to camping trip. Pearl and Brie were the two women outside of the sisters who were important to the story. I adored their stories.

My other issue was the camping trip. I'm sure it was left ambiguous on purpose, but some of the details surrounding the men's trip didn't match. I was left confused. Why include all four men, but not give us resolution?

Overall, I would recommend this book. It was definitely worth reading to help me remember I am not alone. I am seen.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coming soon, Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri, is a story of family and friends, focusing on two sisters, one who likes control and the other a recovering alcoholic. All while trying to figure out what happened to woman they know in their town.

For some reason, I thought this was a Christian fiction book but it wasn’t so that was a a bit of a disappointment to me. There were a couple times that same-sex attraction was mentioned in the book. As I read it I thought of the many ways of what Jesus would have wanted them to know and how they can truly be saved.

However, it is still a great story worth reading. I learned more about addiction and the AA program. How these two sisters worked at overcoming the hardships they endured, having a mother who died young of cancer, an addict father, and a college sexual assault, and how each of these issues affected the sisters differently. But also how important it is to also share our story and difficulties with one another, so that not only we can learn from one another, but also be helpful, understanding, and encouraging. This is a book that will teach you humbleness and a reminder hat God can use anything to help us grow.

I took a few highlights from the book:

I thought I needed to build a wall, when what I really needed was a bridge.
And in that stillness, she understood something new: Just like he wasn’t God, she wasn’t a monster. But she was responsible for her choices…
What makes you think you have control over any of the things that happen in this life
I hate how easily our culture absorbs assault into the fabric of everyday life.

I would definitely recommend this book to adult age readers, but read with discernment.



Many thanks to Netgalley for providing this book for review! Opinions are 100% my own! I did receive the product in exchange for this review and post.

[Haley Sparks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

I enjoyed this book about 2 adult sisters and the complications of their upbringing and their current lives. There are heavy themes here—it touches on addiction, neurodivergence, sexual assault, motherhood and more, but the book never felt so heavy that I dreaded picking it up. It handled the heaviness and bleakness of these themes with grace and love and care. The writing, though quiet and unfussy, felt peaceful and emotional and I always felt calm while reading this, despite the unsettling nature of the plot at times. Well, that’s not entirely true—there were a few instances where I was less calm (mainly Frankie’s instability,) but trusted the writing here.

There is also a missing person and a bit of a mystery in this story, which at times felt like it was at the forefront of the novel and at other times, felt like it was in the background. It’s interestingly woven throughout in an impactful way and though Bri’s actual scenes were brief, her part in the story has stayed with me since I finished the book. It’s clear that Guerrieri has a personal relationship with addiction, as she writes about it with such raw and beautiful emotion. That being said, the book isn’t sad in a way that many other addiction stories I’ve read have been. Yes, it’s heavy, like I mentioned, but it doesn’t rely on heaviness and sadness as its only plot devices. Though this is a sad story, it left me feeling much more contemplative, reflective, and thoughtful than sad. Ultimately, this felt like a powerful and quiet exploration of sisterhood, trauma, addiction, and resilience. I’d recommend this for fans of family dramas, especially Blue Sisters!

[Shelly Grabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advanced Reader Review – Personal Reflections

I first read Jessica Guerrieri’s debut novel, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, and was absolutely blown away. After finishing it, I immediately reached out to invite her onto our podcast—and the conversation was just as engaging and dynamic as her writing.

Jessica graciously sent me an Advanced Reader copy of Both Can Be True (paperback), and I truly could not put it down. As someone who reads about seven books a week—mostly audiobooks while hiking—that’s saying something. If you haven’t read her first book yet, I highly recommend starting there.

Both Can Be True is a powerful and deeply relatable story. No matter what stage of life you’re in, this is a book that will resonate. Jessica beautifully captures the complexity of being a sibling, a mother, a daughter, a partner, a business owner, and a member of a community—all while navigating mental health and the ongoing pursuit of self-care.

As the mother of an adult living with Autism, I was especially moved by Jessica’s portrayal of overstimulation. She offers such a thoughtful and nuanced perspective—exploring what might be experienced from the child’s point of view, alongside the emotions of the mother and the reactions of those around them. It was both meaningful and validating.

And truly—I’m a goner for any story that includes bookstores and sisters.
This is the second book I have read of Jessica's where she doesn't dummy it down for the reader. The writing feels authentic and after meeting Jessica- I know it is heartfelt and authentic. I can 100% see this as a much needed movie. #harpermuse #jessicaguerrieri #makethisamovie #advancedreader #adjacentpodcast https://www.shodymedia.com/adjacent-p...

[Another Read by Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

🏕️ ARC REVIEW 🏕️

PUB DATE: May 18th 2026

My Rating : ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 4.5 unraveling stars

“ Sometimes leaving isn’t a decision at all. It’s the final, flickering instinct of a woman trying to stay alive . A quiet kind of survival.”

“What good was choosing simple if it meant carving out the parts of herself that once reached for more ..”

“You don’t have to know all the answers right now . You just have to know what your heart is asking for .”

Jessica has done it again , and has written us a shattering novel and even though this book has ended it still echos in my mind 🖤

Jessica is an author who should not be taken lightly. She writes these beautiful passages, mastering in family drama and characters who are so raw , real and relatable to many.

This author has definitely found her niche in writing deep , compelling stories using her real life past experiences and putting them onto paper and it must be so healing every time she puts pen to paper .

Without giving too much away , this story centres around two estranged sisters who are both battling their own personal demons . Then one day a local woman goes missing who Frankie was her sponsor and feels only guilt for her disappearance.

Will past trauma reopen old memories and old habits take form again ? Or will sisterhood strengthen as the story unfolds?

If you like family dramas, blurred lines , coming undone characters, a constant foreboding dancing in the background, mystery , flawed cast and fiction that reads so realistically then definitely add this one to your TBR🖤

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Muse and @jessicaguerrieriauthor for this electric ARC 🫶🏼

QOTD- What was the last book that refused to let you go ?

#books #bookstagram #bookcommunity #bookworm #fyp

[Terri (BooklyMatters) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A searing and complex look at identity, sobriety, loneliness and longing — centering on the internal world of women, caretaking, motherhood, and the insidious push for disappearance into societal roles that, much as they may feel that way, do not ultimately define us.

Between these pages we will follow the lives of two North Californian sisters: Frankie Marino, a mother of two daughters, who must learn to live a life, in all its fullness, without the crutch of alcohol; and her older sister, Mere, crushed and isolated by the responsibilities of caring for a daughter (and likely a husband) situated on the spectrum.

Frankie and Mere’s lives will unfold in vignettes, in tragedies, backwards and forwards in time, and in language so beautifully written that the story will settle itself in layers, as if into deep and quietly brilliant carpets of snow, — an evocative backdrop to the beginning, and the end, of a tale that includes a winter storm, a missing person, and two individual and anguished journeys, which may or may not ultimately find their way to merge into one.

As the women each explore their pasts, the challenges of their current lives, and their relationship with their essential womanhood, motherhood, sisterhood and identities, it will become clear to the reader that love can be expressed in many languages, some of which we may be “still learning to hear.”

I loved this book, — a raw and tender exploration of all that it takes to be human, and the connections that can be seen to be there, once we are open to accepting them.

A great big thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

[Katie Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully heartbreaking and heartbreakingly beautiful. Jessica Guerrieri weaves together a story full of heart and heartache, womanhood and motherhood, love and resentment, addiction and recovery, trauma and healing, neurodiversity and acceptance.

The story focuses on two very different sisters, Mere and Frankie, as they live their lives over a stressful few weeks.

Mere, who needs to provide care so no one gets hurt. Who is disappearing in her life beneath the weight of her marriage and childcare. Who appreciates the quiet, finding it a form of honest and truth.

Frankie, who needs to be loved so she’s not abandoned. Who is fading away as she chases the high to numb the pain. Who fears the quiet, finding it threatening.

However, a lot more characters come in to play. Each with her own story and struggles that intertwine and impact Mere and Frankie.

In the end, why I liked about this book is that it felt so real. The characters: all so relatable, capturing their strengths and flaws. Seeing them failing, some learning from their mistakes and others not. But ultimately showing that you can only save the people who want to be saved. The writing style: descriptive, without being slow. Carefully interwoven to pull together multiple subplots in a way that felt natural. And the underlying messages: everything from it’s never too late to change to life nor recovery being a linear path. So much can be taken from Guerrieri forcing readers to sit and think about uncomfortable yet crucial topics.

Thank you to Jessica Guerrieri, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some women disappear slowly… not all at once.

This book is quiet in tone but heavy in impact, exploring everything from motherhood and addiction to trauma, shame, and the fragile ties between once inseparable sisters.

Frankie and Mere are sisters, and their differences and distance between them feel so real. Frankie, the “funny one” turned sober bookstore owner, carries her past in sharp edges and restless energy.

Mere, the steady caretaker, is quietly unravelling under the weight of motherhood, marriage, and the constant pressure to hold everything together.

Watching them orbit each other again after years apart felt tense, emotional, and deeply human.

I loved how honestly this book explores the ways women can lose themselves. In relationships, in parenting, in survival, in silence.

The missing woman storyline adds a subtle thread of mystery, but the real focus is the emotional unloading happening between the sisters and within themselves. It’s less about solving something external and more about facing what’s been buried internally for years.

Some moments felt uncomfortable in the most intentional way because that’s exactly what the story is asking you to sit with. The weight of unresolved trauma, the cracks in family systems, the ways people cope just to get through the day.

And despite all of that heaviness, there’s compassion here too. For mistakes. For coping mechanisms. For the versions of ourselves we outgrow but still carry.
I finished this one feeling a lot...sad, reflective, and oddly understood.

Thank you so much Jessica Guerrieri and Harper Muse for sending me a #gifted copy.
All opinions are my own 🖤

[Kiza Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

This is a book that I feel stays with you as a woman and is a raw window into not only addiction, but also motherhood, marriage and the delicate balance women are always making in their lives, the load that is there and that we many times don't even know what to do with

the main characters are Mere and Frankie, two sisters who are stranged, they have a surface level relationship because they both hold grudges towards the other, but in truth they had a rough childhoos that deeply affected theit adult lives.

Now as they are in their 40s, married and with children, the day to day of the lives they lead are not exactly equal to a life in which they lean on each other, there is a lot of hidden feelings that they haven't worked out, but then a mother in their community goes missing and everything comes unraveling for both of them in different ways

I enjoyed the development of the story I felt the pace was very well done, also there was a lot of internal diologue so if you like a character driven story over a lot actions to develope the plot, this is a great book for that.

In a lot of ways I felt that Brie, the mother who goes missing was a bit of a blending of both sisters, they both felt her loss in different ways and could relate to her experiences, towards the end of the book there is a very raw chapter from Brie's POV which I felt gutted by, so this is definateli a book that I think will stay on my mind for a long time

[MichelleZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Beautiful, Emotional and Loving ⭐'s for Both Can Be True

The moment I heard an audio excerpt from this novel, I knew I had to dive in. I didn’t even make it three minutes (out of five) before requesting it—and less than ten minutes later, I was approved. Thirty seconds after that, I hit play and didn’t stop until it was finished (aside from a few necessary hours of sleep).

I truly believe this book is for everyone. You don’t have to be a mother or struggle with addiction to connect with it. In some way, aren’t we all mothers—to children, pets, nieces, nephews, or even a plant we’re trying to keep alive? And aren’t we all a little addicted to something—love, food, nature, books, animals, alcohol, drugs or even sleep? This novel taps into those universal threads and is bound to resonate with you.

The narrators truly breathe life into the characters—bravo to Helen Laser, Mia Hutchinson Shaw, and Rebecca Lowman for such a captivating performance.

I saw so much of my own life reflected in Frankie and Mere and Jessica Guerrieri was able to put my thoughts and feelings to the page. There were moments when I thought I was reading about myself.

Do yourself a favor and read/listen to this beautiful raw novel.

Jessica..... I’ll definitely be picking up everything you write from here on out. I already ordered Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.

I want to thank NetGalley, Harper Muse Audiobooks and Jessica Guerrieri for an advanced audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Zoe Betts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this Advanced Copy!
4⭐️

Both can be true takes us through the complex feelings of life and death - grief and guilt. We are told these story’s through two sisters, Mere and Frankie, who become back in touch when a local women goes missing. Through this time, we see the struggles Frankie faces with her own life choices; the past and the present, and we see Mere struggle with how her life feels and the life she is living. A story of achievements, grief and breaking points, this book shows the realities of addiction and the struggles acceptance.

I will start by saying I enjoyed this book! It was not at first what I expected - I had thought it would be more of a mystery type, but I enjoyed the way it had that tied in instead of being the main focus. The characters were well written and felt quite realistic. I always enjoy when the book doesn’t glorify things like addiction or grief, and shows the true struggles that can come along. It was well thought out.

My only thing is I still am not to sure about the men’s camping trip- i just don’t really understand the overall importance of jt. I think the story would have had the same meaning without it, but it was still an interesting plot piece.

Overall, I really enjoyed the realistic feel of this book & the lessons it teaches about addiction and how it can be show in different forms. Although it’s a heavy topic, it was written with such carefulness that it felt warming to see the happy ending.