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Big & Lily
A sharply funny, deeply heartfelt novel about two sisters who discover the best way to find yourself is by getting lost.
For her entire life, Bridget “Big” Ackerman Petty has struggled to hold everything together—her kids, her husband, her demanding mother, all in dizzying orbit around her. While the kids are grown and her husband is retired, every day still feels like a to-do list she can never quite finish. Why is everything so effortless and easy for her sister Lily—a woman blessed with a magnetic personality, a thriving business, and a husband who adores her.
But when Lily discovers her husband’s been cheating, her “perfect” life implodes. Devastated and overwhelmed, she decides to run as far away as to Alaska to lose herself on a hardcore survival trek—and she’s dragged her reluctant sister Big along.
No cell service, no easy exits—just grizzlies, outdoor plumbing, and a group of strangers who know how to read a compass. As the sisters navigate freezing rivers, unmarked trails, and more than one near-death experience, the defenses they’ve used to protect themselves begin to crumble, and they’re forced to face everything they’ve spent decades resentment, regret, envy, and the terrifying possibility that the other one’s life might not be as easy as it looks.
Big & Lily is a laugh-out-loud, emotionally rich novel about second acts, sisterhood, and the unexpected ways we find ourselves when we’re truly lost.
For her entire life, Bridget “Big” Ackerman Petty has struggled to hold everything together—her kids, her husband, her demanding mother, all in dizzying orbit around her. While the kids are grown and her husband is retired, every day still feels like a to-do list she can never quite finish. Why is everything so effortless and easy for her sister Lily—a woman blessed with a magnetic personality, a thriving business, and a husband who adores her.
But when Lily discovers her husband’s been cheating, her “perfect” life implodes. Devastated and overwhelmed, she decides to run as far away as to Alaska to lose herself on a hardcore survival trek—and she’s dragged her reluctant sister Big along.
No cell service, no easy exits—just grizzlies, outdoor plumbing, and a group of strangers who know how to read a compass. As the sisters navigate freezing rivers, unmarked trails, and more than one near-death experience, the defenses they’ve used to protect themselves begin to crumble, and they’re forced to face everything they’ve spent decades resentment, regret, envy, and the terrifying possibility that the other one’s life might not be as easy as it looks.
Big & Lily is a laugh-out-loud, emotionally rich novel about second acts, sisterhood, and the unexpected ways we find ourselves when we’re truly lost.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 11, 2026
About the author
Lisa Roe
2 books137 followersAfter graduating from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and spending many years as an advertising creative director and copywriter in New York City, Lisa Roe accepted the tougher job of stay-at-home mom and turned to writing fiction — mostly to entertain her kids, but then to tell her own stories. A classic first born, a reluctant empty nester, and a Dr. Doolittle wannabe, Lisa lives in New Jersey with her husband and three incorrigible dogs. She is the author of WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD and BIG & LILY.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
August 5, 2026
This was such a charming, funny, and genuinely big hearted story. The relationship between Big and Lily felt authentic from beginning to end, and I loved watching both sisters grow. not only as individuals but also in the way they understood and appreciated each other.
Big especially resonated with me. As someone who’s constantly taking care of everyone else, she’s the definition of the eldest daughter who carries the mental load without even realizing it anymore. Her journey toward recognizing her own needs was incredibly relatable and one of my favorite parts of the novel.
The Alaska setting was a blast. Throwing two sisters completely out of their comfort zones created plenty of fish out of water moments that were both hilarious and heartfelt. The adventure kept the story moving at a brisk pace, making it an easy, entertaining summer read. I also really enjoyed the supporting cast. Every member of the expedition added personality and humor, helping balance the emotional moments with plenty of witty banter. The snark, sarcasm, and lighthearted humor landed well throughout the book without taking away from its emotional core.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Sister centered fiction
* Fish out of water adventures
* Alaska settings and wilderness journeys
* Funny, heartfelt family stories
* Character driven second act novels
Big especially resonated with me. As someone who’s constantly taking care of everyone else, she’s the definition of the eldest daughter who carries the mental load without even realizing it anymore. Her journey toward recognizing her own needs was incredibly relatable and one of my favorite parts of the novel.
The Alaska setting was a blast. Throwing two sisters completely out of their comfort zones created plenty of fish out of water moments that were both hilarious and heartfelt. The adventure kept the story moving at a brisk pace, making it an easy, entertaining summer read. I also really enjoyed the supporting cast. Every member of the expedition added personality and humor, helping balance the emotional moments with plenty of witty banter. The snark, sarcasm, and lighthearted humor landed well throughout the book without taking away from its emotional core.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Sister centered fiction
* Fish out of water adventures
* Alaska settings and wilderness journeys
* Funny, heartfelt family stories
* Character driven second act novels
August 18, 2026
me at 82%: "can this just be lily's tragic end so i can spare myself another 2 hours of this schlocky bickering sisters trope?" yikeseola.
#alternativecovers
#alternativecovers
August 7, 2026
BIG & LILY is a hilariously heartfelt novel about sisterhood and self-discovery.
When Lily’s marriage crumbles, she begs her big sister Bridget (“Big”) to attend an outdoor retreat in Alaska with her.
I loved this fish-out-of-water story about two sisters uncovering new things about themselves and their relationship. As someone who has two siblings, it’s always fun to read stories with complicated family dynamics. There’s so much to relate to!
Alaska was the perfect setting. While Bridget and Lily might have initially been in over their heads, there was so much internal and external growth along the way.
Lisa Roe not only wrote a story that’s deeply healing to its characters, but she also created such a beautiful cast of side characters that were along for the ride with Bridget and Lily. I loved the immediate sense of found family and how they carried each other through the unique challenges they were each facing.
When Lily’s marriage crumbles, she begs her big sister Bridget (“Big”) to attend an outdoor retreat in Alaska with her.
I loved this fish-out-of-water story about two sisters uncovering new things about themselves and their relationship. As someone who has two siblings, it’s always fun to read stories with complicated family dynamics. There’s so much to relate to!
Alaska was the perfect setting. While Bridget and Lily might have initially been in over their heads, there was so much internal and external growth along the way.
Lisa Roe not only wrote a story that’s deeply healing to its characters, but she also created such a beautiful cast of side characters that were along for the ride with Bridget and Lily. I loved the immediate sense of found family and how they carried each other through the unique challenges they were each facing.
July 3, 2026
Thank you to #HarperPerennial and #NetGalley for the digital ARC of #BigLily. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
As an "only", I love a sibling story and Big & Lily doesn't disappoint. Bridget aka "Big" is the typical oldest child - taking care of everything and everyone in her family. When little sister Lily discovers her husband has been cheating, she needs to get far away from him and insists that Big come with her. Which is how Big and Lily end up in Alaska on a guided adventure trip that neither of them is ready for. With plenty of sibling snark, comical mishaps and wild creature encounters, this book is full of heart.
The plot was a little predictable, but I really liked the characters (even when Lily was being a bitch) and the setting. Overall, a really fun read.
As an "only", I love a sibling story and Big & Lily doesn't disappoint. Bridget aka "Big" is the typical oldest child - taking care of everything and everyone in her family. When little sister Lily discovers her husband has been cheating, she needs to get far away from him and insists that Big come with her. Which is how Big and Lily end up in Alaska on a guided adventure trip that neither of them is ready for. With plenty of sibling snark, comical mishaps and wild creature encounters, this book is full of heart.
The plot was a little predictable, but I really liked the characters (even when Lily was being a bitch) and the setting. Overall, a really fun read.
November 12, 2025
Lisa Roe does it again with her signature humor on every page. Big and Lily is a hilarious thrill ride that had me doubling over in stitches. In Lily’s rash attempt to escape her messy life and drag her sister, Big, with her, she signs them up for an Alaskan wilderness adventure that is way out of their depth. What follows is a drama filled journey rife with complex sibling dynamics, hair-raising experiences, and jaw-dropping moments. Both sisters believe “the grass is greener” for the other and must face truths they’ve kept hidden, confide in each other, and set aside their differences to survive the unknown together. Wildly entertaining, heartfelt, and powerful—this story grabs hold of you and hangs with you well after the last page.
May 25, 2026
This was more of a 4.5⭐️ I really liked this and it was a super quick and light read. I feel like I haven’t read something like this before, so it was really nice break from my typical reading genre. I don’t have a sister, but I felt the ‘sisterness’. Their relationship felt so genuine. I loved Bridget (“Big”) so much. She was flawless. She is me, I am her. She’s my idol. Lily… Lily was kinda dumb. and kind of annoying. But obviously, that was sort of her purpose. And you can’t fault her either entirely. She’s such a ‘baby of the family’. She’s clearly having a crisis. Big is such a good big sister. She handles so much and puts up with so much, and I just loved reading about her. I think this should be a movie asap!! Someone get this girl a producer immediately. I really liked the side characters too that were a part of the nature group. Luna and Mimi > truly the best grandmother vibes of the plot. I want Brick to be my personal therapist. I think what also really appealed me and will just always score points for me is that: the story revolves around women, mid-aged women for that matter, and the focus isn’t on romance. Maybe it’s because of my age and reading tastes, but I feel like it’s rare to read a book like this where middle aged women are the stars and there is no main male character. I think that is so refreshing and so powerful too. And the fact that it’s like an ‘adventure’, self-discovery, risk-taking, ‘going out of comfort zone’ kind of book !!!! is phenomenal to me.
Now, the reason I say 4.5, I read this as an ARC (advanced reader’s copy 💅🏼) and I noticed quite a lot of grammatical errors and sentences that weren’t really sentences. I would like to believe that these things are going to be caught and corrected before publication. So because what I read is an ARC, I didn’t want to judge too harshly. However, if it was a published book and it had this many mistakes, that is something I have difficulty overlooking and may be something that would have knocked it down a star for me.
I also want to say: this isn’t like a must read. I honestly feel like it was ehh in terms of writing. However, I really liked it! This was totally up my alley, I feel like I haven’t read anything like this before and it was exactly what I needed.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher, Harper Perennial, for this sister-shenanigan-filled, fun outdoorsy ARC!
Now, the reason I say 4.5, I read this as an ARC (advanced reader’s copy 💅🏼) and I noticed quite a lot of grammatical errors and sentences that weren’t really sentences. I would like to believe that these things are going to be caught and corrected before publication. So because what I read is an ARC, I didn’t want to judge too harshly. However, if it was a published book and it had this many mistakes, that is something I have difficulty overlooking and may be something that would have knocked it down a star for me.
I also want to say: this isn’t like a must read. I honestly feel like it was ehh in terms of writing. However, I really liked it! This was totally up my alley, I feel like I haven’t read anything like this before and it was exactly what I needed.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher, Harper Perennial, for this sister-shenanigan-filled, fun outdoorsy ARC!
August 12, 2026
I'd been waiting for this one for over 6 months, but it was fine. Not bad, just fine. It would probably make a good movie on a smaller network.
August 7, 2026
I had huge expectations of this book, being it’s a sister trope and I adore those….but the writing and the slow pace was just boring me. There’s just not enough substance for me.
May 18, 2026
DNF at the halfway mark, and I rarely give up that deep in.
The narration was the first hurdle. Jesse Vilinsky has a young-sounding voice and she leans into youthful inflections — which works for YA, where I've genuinely enjoyed her. For middle-aged, retired sisters on an Alaskan survival trek? The casting felt off and I never adjusted.
Then there was Lily. Her dysfunction kept escalating in ways that didn't track, and the wacky-situation cycle got repetitive fast. I never found a way into either sister, and honestly I'm not sure who this one is for.
The narration was the first hurdle. Jesse Vilinsky has a young-sounding voice and she leans into youthful inflections — which works for YA, where I've genuinely enjoyed her. For middle-aged, retired sisters on an Alaskan survival trek? The casting felt off and I never adjusted.
Then there was Lily. Her dysfunction kept escalating in ways that didn't track, and the wacky-situation cycle got repetitive fast. I never found a way into either sister, and honestly I'm not sure who this one is for.
August 6, 2026
3.75⭐️
Sister stories always get my attention. Not the sweet, sappy we’ve been besties forever, wear matching outfits, and complete each other’s sentences sisters. I like the hair pulling, name calling, I occasionally hate you but I’ll protect and defend you with my life sister stories. That, in a nutshell, is Big & Lily.
Big (Bridget) is the classic oldest daughter. She’s grounded, responsible, nurturing, and a caretaker to everyone but herself. Lily is … a spoiled brat. She runs to Big every time she has a problem and expects Big to drop everything to tend to her needs. So it’s no surprise that when her marriage falls apart, Lily literally bullies Big into accompanying her on an Alaskan adventure.
Wait here a minute. I had to check periodically and remind myself that these were two middle aged women. Not children. Not teenagers. Not young adults still figuring out this thing called life. Big’s husband is retired and her adult children are back home leeching the very life from her bones. And Lily is 41!!! You would never know it from her behavior. But I digress.
On the surface this may have been a sister story as they worked through their complicated relationship, but, honestly, the arc that interested me was Big’s. Can you have a coming of age moment in your mid 50s? You sure as hell can. Watching Big realize her worth made putting up with Lily’s whining worth it.
There are plenty of entertaining moments in this book. I laughed out loud more than once and the Alaskan setting is described in all its magnificence. The supporting characters are a treat and contribute greatly to the story.
I paired my gifted digital copy from Harper Perennial with the advance listening copy provided by Librofm through their early listener program. Jesse Villinsky took the book to the next level with her stellar narration. Her Long Island accent was spot on and she voiced the other characters with equal skill. The audio definitely enhanced my reading experience.
Sister stories always get my attention. Not the sweet, sappy we’ve been besties forever, wear matching outfits, and complete each other’s sentences sisters. I like the hair pulling, name calling, I occasionally hate you but I’ll protect and defend you with my life sister stories. That, in a nutshell, is Big & Lily.
Big (Bridget) is the classic oldest daughter. She’s grounded, responsible, nurturing, and a caretaker to everyone but herself. Lily is … a spoiled brat. She runs to Big every time she has a problem and expects Big to drop everything to tend to her needs. So it’s no surprise that when her marriage falls apart, Lily literally bullies Big into accompanying her on an Alaskan adventure.
Wait here a minute. I had to check periodically and remind myself that these were two middle aged women. Not children. Not teenagers. Not young adults still figuring out this thing called life. Big’s husband is retired and her adult children are back home leeching the very life from her bones. And Lily is 41!!! You would never know it from her behavior. But I digress.
On the surface this may have been a sister story as they worked through their complicated relationship, but, honestly, the arc that interested me was Big’s. Can you have a coming of age moment in your mid 50s? You sure as hell can. Watching Big realize her worth made putting up with Lily’s whining worth it.
There are plenty of entertaining moments in this book. I laughed out loud more than once and the Alaskan setting is described in all its magnificence. The supporting characters are a treat and contribute greatly to the story.
I paired my gifted digital copy from Harper Perennial with the advance listening copy provided by Librofm through their early listener program. Jesse Villinsky took the book to the next level with her stellar narration. Her Long Island accent was spot on and she voiced the other characters with equal skill. The audio definitely enhanced my reading experience.
September 2, 2026
#harperperennialpartner
I’m big on birth order. That is, I’ve done deep dives and research and believe it plays a role in one’s personality traits. At the same time, I also believe there are so many other factors that influence these roles—it’s not the end-all, be-all—such as life! I felt so passionate for Big & Lily. The story hit some spots that got me pretty heated towards the youngest, Lily. And no, I’m not the oldest child—I resonated with Big/Bridget, the older sister. All the sacrifices she made for Lily and their mother. She took on the role of a parent. Emotionally supports Lily, especially when her marriage falls apart as they make a trek to Alaska —Lily’s idea— for a getaway.
I must say, the way the story is, my heart went out to Big, and yes, I yelled at this book. There were several, “Big, you just need to go home now. That’s what I would do.” “Big, you don’t need this.” “Forget you, Lily.” Even being away from her family — why is it that she is the only one who can find things and the house falls apart when she’s away—ultimately she does recognize she doesn’t need to be the problem solver.
Author Lisa Roe makes the story quite humorous as both sisters learn valuable lessons. I must say there was one character that my heart went out to. I was worried about him. I really liked how everything ended.
Thank you to Author Lisa Roe and Harper Perennial for the #gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’m big on birth order. That is, I’ve done deep dives and research and believe it plays a role in one’s personality traits. At the same time, I also believe there are so many other factors that influence these roles—it’s not the end-all, be-all—such as life! I felt so passionate for Big & Lily. The story hit some spots that got me pretty heated towards the youngest, Lily. And no, I’m not the oldest child—I resonated with Big/Bridget, the older sister. All the sacrifices she made for Lily and their mother. She took on the role of a parent. Emotionally supports Lily, especially when her marriage falls apart as they make a trek to Alaska —Lily’s idea— for a getaway.
I must say, the way the story is, my heart went out to Big, and yes, I yelled at this book. There were several, “Big, you just need to go home now. That’s what I would do.” “Big, you don’t need this.” “Forget you, Lily.” Even being away from her family — why is it that she is the only one who can find things and the house falls apart when she’s away—ultimately she does recognize she doesn’t need to be the problem solver.
Author Lisa Roe makes the story quite humorous as both sisters learn valuable lessons. I must say there was one character that my heart went out to. I was worried about him. I really liked how everything ended.
Thank you to Author Lisa Roe and Harper Perennial for the #gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 13, 2026
When her younger sister, Lily, needs an escape after betrayal, Bridget (Big) decides to go on an Alaskan adventure with Lily. If nothing else, it’s to keep an eye on her sister and make sure she stays safe. While there, Big gets more than she bargained for when she forms a bond with both the people and the landscape.
One of the things I really loved about this story is that we got to spend some time with the two sisters before traveling to Alaska with them. It allowed us to see the sibling dynamic, how it affected their families, everyday life, etc.
The story is definitely about dysfunctional familial relationships and the bond of sisters, but at its core it’s mostly a character journey for Big as she realizes her own worth and what makes her happy outside of just being there for her sister, husband, and kids. It’s easy to see why Big acts the way she does with her sister, thrust into a mothering role at such a young age. Her character growth and eye-opening moments while in Alaska are enough to keep reading all on their own.
There’s a lovely dose of found family as well as a lot of adventuring and beautiful nature moments during their time in Alaska, and I loved the way the side characters helped Big in her journey.
Disclaimer, sister Lily is terrible. She is one of the most self centered characters I’ve read about in a family novel like this, BUT Big’s character growth feels like it makes it worth it to stay through the madness 😂
One of the things I really loved about this story is that we got to spend some time with the two sisters before traveling to Alaska with them. It allowed us to see the sibling dynamic, how it affected their families, everyday life, etc.
The story is definitely about dysfunctional familial relationships and the bond of sisters, but at its core it’s mostly a character journey for Big as she realizes her own worth and what makes her happy outside of just being there for her sister, husband, and kids. It’s easy to see why Big acts the way she does with her sister, thrust into a mothering role at such a young age. Her character growth and eye-opening moments while in Alaska are enough to keep reading all on their own.
There’s a lovely dose of found family as well as a lot of adventuring and beautiful nature moments during their time in Alaska, and I loved the way the side characters helped Big in her journey.
Disclaimer, sister Lily is terrible. She is one of the most self centered characters I’ve read about in a family novel like this, BUT Big’s character growth feels like it makes it worth it to stay through the madness 😂
August 20, 2026
LOVEDDD this one! This was such a fun, quick summer read and my first book by Lisa Roe and now I totally understand why I've been seeing this one everywhere!
Big & Lily follows sisters on an adventure through Alaska, and honestly, the setting alone had me ready to grab my own sister and book a flight. There is something so intriguing about the wildness of Alaska, the vast landscapes, the wilderness, the feeling of being just a little bit removed from everyday life and Roe really captured that sense of adventure.
But underneath all the fun and beautiful scenery, I loved the sisterhood at the heart of this story. There's something about reading a book centered around sisters, family, and figuring out life together that just gets me.
I was SO excited when the publisher sent this one my way, especially because I'd already been seeing it all over my feed. And then I found out that Lisa Roe is going to be at a library near me in October! How perfect is that?! I can't wait to meet her and hear how she came up with this story and these characters.
So yes...Lisa Roe has officially made the must-read-author list. 📚️
If you're looking for a quick, entertaining summer read with adventure, family, sisterhood, and a whole lot of Alaska, pick this one up!
Big & Lily follows sisters on an adventure through Alaska, and honestly, the setting alone had me ready to grab my own sister and book a flight. There is something so intriguing about the wildness of Alaska, the vast landscapes, the wilderness, the feeling of being just a little bit removed from everyday life and Roe really captured that sense of adventure.
But underneath all the fun and beautiful scenery, I loved the sisterhood at the heart of this story. There's something about reading a book centered around sisters, family, and figuring out life together that just gets me.
I was SO excited when the publisher sent this one my way, especially because I'd already been seeing it all over my feed. And then I found out that Lisa Roe is going to be at a library near me in October! How perfect is that?! I can't wait to meet her and hear how she came up with this story and these characters.
So yes...Lisa Roe has officially made the must-read-author list. 📚️
If you're looking for a quick, entertaining summer read with adventure, family, sisterhood, and a whole lot of Alaska, pick this one up!
September 5, 2026
I love a messy sister relationship because, honestly, it’s relatable. I enjoyed watching these sisters bicker, grow, and ultimately come to realize the meaning of their big and little sister bond. There were definitely times when the bickering felt like a bit much but I knew they would eventually come to their senses. I loved the surprises throughout the story. Some were a little predictable but they were still such happy surprises! I also really enjoyed all of the side characters. They added so much to the story and made the overall experience feel incredibly wholesome.
One thing I would recommend, though, maybe skip the audio. The narrator felt a bit too juvenile for the characters and I just couldn’t get into it. I ended up switching to the physical book and it was a much better experience for me.
One thing I would recommend, though, maybe skip the audio. The narrator felt a bit too juvenile for the characters and I just couldn’t get into it. I ended up switching to the physical book and it was a much better experience for me.
August 14, 2026
3.75⭐️ {ARC/Book}
I love a good imperfect sisterhood story. Especially one that feels authentic and grabs your attention. Personality, humor and sass. This one also adds the vividness and outdoor adventures of Alaska to the mix.
Character growth + self-discovery, especially for Big. That feeling of being everything for everyone, but never yourself.
It makes a fun and easy beach read with its quiet humor, sisterhood drama, and down-to-earth journey. I’ve heard the audio on this one is a lot of fun.
**Thank you to Lisa Roe and publisher Harper Perennial. I received an Advanced Reader Copy for the 2026 release in exchange for my honest review.
I love a good imperfect sisterhood story. Especially one that feels authentic and grabs your attention. Personality, humor and sass. This one also adds the vividness and outdoor adventures of Alaska to the mix.
Character growth + self-discovery, especially for Big. That feeling of being everything for everyone, but never yourself.
It makes a fun and easy beach read with its quiet humor, sisterhood drama, and down-to-earth journey. I’ve heard the audio on this one is a lot of fun.
**Thank you to Lisa Roe and publisher Harper Perennial. I received an Advanced Reader Copy for the 2026 release in exchange for my honest review.
August 29, 2026
If you’re in my book club please skip reading this .
3.75⭐️
I was really excited to read this because having a younger sister, I could relate to Big. However Lily drove me insane and pissed me off most of the book. I did really love how all loose ends with the side characters were finished at the end. Also loved what they gain from their Alaska trip.
3.75⭐️
I was really excited to read this because having a younger sister, I could relate to Big. However Lily drove me insane and pissed me off most of the book. I did really love how all loose ends with the side characters were finished at the end. Also loved what they gain from their Alaska trip.
September 5, 2026
RTC. . .
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Netgalley early release:
Two women who have no business traveling to the Alaskan Wilderness. They endangered themselves, the group, and the guidos.
Two women who have no business traveling to the Alaskan Wilderness. They endangered themselves, the group, and the guidos.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Harper Audio Adult through NetGalley for an Advanced Listener Copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is an emotional story about two sisters: an older sister, Bridget (“Big”), who lives a seemingly idyllic life with two teenage children and a newly retired husband, and her younger sister, Lily, who has a successful niche store and a marriage of her own, but quietly longs for the life Big seems to have built.
After a life-changing betrayal, Lily decides she needs to run before she can fight back and drags Big on an Alaskan hiking getaway. What they expect to be “glamping” quickly becomes something far more rigorous.
Their relationship is strained by the rigors of the trip and the unspoken reason behind the betrayal.
This is a novel about what the wilderness takes from you and what it gives back in return.
What I liked:
The characters pulled me into the story and kept me interested. The people vacationing alongside Big and Lily are much more than mere placeholders: they each have their own reasons for visiting Alaska and their stories are fully told alongside the sisters' tale.
The descriptions of the scenery are beautiful and deeply atmospheric. I could picture every stream and tree, every mountain and sky.
The relationship between the sisters is realistic: the ups and downs, the in-jokes, and the sarcasm that sometimes bites too hard. Their deep love for each other is touching and carries the story forward.
What was not for me:
The pacing of the novel is slow and deliberate, giving the story ample time to unfold and reflecting the vastness of the landscape around the sisters. However, some of the emotionally intense scenes escalated very quickly by comparison, and that contrast occasionally pulled me out of the story.
One of the strengths of the story is the realness of the relationship between the sisters, but I found the younger sister to be shallow and tone deaf to the point of irritation. I understand that the author is painting a picture of a woman breaking down, but her insensitivity made her quite unlikable at times. I was always rooting for her, but sometimes I did not like her.
Big, the older sister, has the same physical and emotional reactions to every hint of danger. This reinforces her role as the protector, but is also a bit repetitive.
In the end, I enjoyed this book. I kept picturing it as a movie, and I do think it would do well on the big screen. The vast Alaskan landscape with its own dangers and beauty is the perfect setting for the trauma each of these hikers are going through.
I thought the narrator, Jesse Vilinsky, did a great job in capturing the unique voices and moods of all of the characters, and she used tones and accents so that I could instantly tell them apart. Her pacing matched the emotional rhythm of the story well and she captured the emotions in each of the tender moments perfectly.
The production of the audiobook was good as well, with no hisses or pops, and consistent pacing between the chapters.
Ultimately, I give this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for its original premise, strong atmosphere, and emotional realism. The interactions between the characters felt real and I cared about the emotional and physical safety of everyone. This is the type of book to read when you want a sweeping atmosphere with realistic characters.
Readers who enjoy emotionally driven stories with strong atmosphere and complicated family dynamics will likely connect with this one.
4 out of 5 stars.
This is an emotional story about two sisters: an older sister, Bridget (“Big”), who lives a seemingly idyllic life with two teenage children and a newly retired husband, and her younger sister, Lily, who has a successful niche store and a marriage of her own, but quietly longs for the life Big seems to have built.
After a life-changing betrayal, Lily decides she needs to run before she can fight back and drags Big on an Alaskan hiking getaway. What they expect to be “glamping” quickly becomes something far more rigorous.
Their relationship is strained by the rigors of the trip and the unspoken reason behind the betrayal.
This is a novel about what the wilderness takes from you and what it gives back in return.
What I liked:
The characters pulled me into the story and kept me interested. The people vacationing alongside Big and Lily are much more than mere placeholders: they each have their own reasons for visiting Alaska and their stories are fully told alongside the sisters' tale.
The descriptions of the scenery are beautiful and deeply atmospheric. I could picture every stream and tree, every mountain and sky.
The relationship between the sisters is realistic: the ups and downs, the in-jokes, and the sarcasm that sometimes bites too hard. Their deep love for each other is touching and carries the story forward.
What was not for me:
The pacing of the novel is slow and deliberate, giving the story ample time to unfold and reflecting the vastness of the landscape around the sisters. However, some of the emotionally intense scenes escalated very quickly by comparison, and that contrast occasionally pulled me out of the story.
One of the strengths of the story is the realness of the relationship between the sisters, but I found the younger sister to be shallow and tone deaf to the point of irritation. I understand that the author is painting a picture of a woman breaking down, but her insensitivity made her quite unlikable at times. I was always rooting for her, but sometimes I did not like her.
Big, the older sister, has the same physical and emotional reactions to every hint of danger. This reinforces her role as the protector, but is also a bit repetitive.
In the end, I enjoyed this book. I kept picturing it as a movie, and I do think it would do well on the big screen. The vast Alaskan landscape with its own dangers and beauty is the perfect setting for the trauma each of these hikers are going through.
I thought the narrator, Jesse Vilinsky, did a great job in capturing the unique voices and moods of all of the characters, and she used tones and accents so that I could instantly tell them apart. Her pacing matched the emotional rhythm of the story well and she captured the emotions in each of the tender moments perfectly.
The production of the audiobook was good as well, with no hisses or pops, and consistent pacing between the chapters.
Ultimately, I give this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for its original premise, strong atmosphere, and emotional realism. The interactions between the characters felt real and I cared about the emotional and physical safety of everyone. This is the type of book to read when you want a sweeping atmosphere with realistic characters.
Readers who enjoy emotionally driven stories with strong atmosphere and complicated family dynamics will likely connect with this one.
4 out of 5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'll be blunt: I requested this book because I usually love dramas about sisters, or brothers, or siblings in general. And the setting of Alaska was very appealing to me. The premise of this book also caught my attention. And because of all that, I had some considerable high expectations towards this novel. And, sadly, they were not met.
Bridget (also known as Big Sister, and eventually becomes just Big) is 7 years older than her younger sister, Lily. I personally love when siblings have a big age gap between them. I'm a sucker for the 'big-sis/brother taking care of their younger sibling'. But these 2 sisters? Yikes!
They are supposed to be in their 40s. Big is even older. And both of them act like teenage brats. Especially Lily. I cannot deal with Lily as a character! Jesus! She is constantly whining about everything!!! She is a class-A Drama Queen and annoyingly shallow, and she and Big spend almost the ENTIRE book bickering, fighting, and yelling at each other. Intolerable! If this was a horror or a thriller novel, I would happily root for them to die as fast as possible and end my misery.
Once the two characters get in Alaska, we, the readers, are introduced to other characters. And even though none of the new characters annoyed me, and the nature adventures they would look for was pleasant to read, I couldn't feel invested in the storyline any longer. My massive dislike towards the sisters was already set in stone. I just wanted it to be over and to never again read/listen to one single sentence from Lily.
*I listened to the audio format of this novel and I requested the audio because I already knew the narrator (Jesse Vilinsky). But the thing is: I'm mostly aware of Vilinsky's work because she narrated some YA books that I've read in the past, and I remember enjoying her narration. But in this case, she did not do such a good job, in my opinion. Her voice sounds too young. So it did not fit well these characters who are much older. Regardless of the fact that Big and Lily behaved like brats most of the time, Vilinky's narration did not fit well their ages. On the other hand, Vilinsky does different voices for different characters - which is always great! However, because the sisters were incredibly annoying (to me), to listen to Vilinsky yelling and being hysterical in her narration all the time was tough to go through.
I believe I can recommend this book to anyone who might enjoy everything that I said here that I personally did not enjoy. Pretty much almost everything didn't work well for me in this book, but hopefully it will work much better for other readers.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperAudio, for allowing me to listen to a free advanced audio copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
Bridget (also known as Big Sister, and eventually becomes just Big) is 7 years older than her younger sister, Lily. I personally love when siblings have a big age gap between them. I'm a sucker for the 'big-sis/brother taking care of their younger sibling'. But these 2 sisters? Yikes!
They are supposed to be in their 40s. Big is even older. And both of them act like teenage brats. Especially Lily. I cannot deal with Lily as a character! Jesus! She is constantly whining about everything!!! She is a class-A Drama Queen and annoyingly shallow, and she and Big spend almost the ENTIRE book bickering, fighting, and yelling at each other. Intolerable! If this was a horror or a thriller novel, I would happily root for them to die as fast as possible and end my misery.
Once the two characters get in Alaska, we, the readers, are introduced to other characters. And even though none of the new characters annoyed me, and the nature adventures they would look for was pleasant to read, I couldn't feel invested in the storyline any longer. My massive dislike towards the sisters was already set in stone. I just wanted it to be over and to never again read/listen to one single sentence from Lily.
*I listened to the audio format of this novel and I requested the audio because I already knew the narrator (Jesse Vilinsky). But the thing is: I'm mostly aware of Vilinsky's work because she narrated some YA books that I've read in the past, and I remember enjoying her narration. But in this case, she did not do such a good job, in my opinion. Her voice sounds too young. So it did not fit well these characters who are much older. Regardless of the fact that Big and Lily behaved like brats most of the time, Vilinky's narration did not fit well their ages. On the other hand, Vilinsky does different voices for different characters - which is always great! However, because the sisters were incredibly annoying (to me), to listen to Vilinsky yelling and being hysterical in her narration all the time was tough to go through.
I believe I can recommend this book to anyone who might enjoy everything that I said here that I personally did not enjoy. Pretty much almost everything didn't work well for me in this book, but hopefully it will work much better for other readers.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperAudio, for allowing me to listen to a free advanced audio copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After seeing great reviews for the author's debut, I wanted to check out this upcoming release and I'm glad I did. Outdoor adventure stories are one of my favorites so a plot revolving around two New Jersey sisters taking an Alaskan wilderness tour sounded like a blast. The nature and hiking were fantastic and absolutely delivered, but this story had more family drama than I was expecting giving it a heart beneath the action.
🏔️🏔️🏔️🏔️
Meet the Sisters
🫎🫎🫎🫎
Lily is the youngest and acts like it. She's beautiful, needy, charismatic, impulsive, and quick to push away the tasks she doesn't want to take on. Lily is heartbroken on quite a few levels and looking for an adventure to take her outside of her troubled life just for a bit. She jumps at the chance to take a guided Alaskan tour. She drags her sister along with her because her sister has been her support person her entire life.
🦊🦊🦊🦊
Bridget "Big" is the responsible one and so relatable. Her mother wasn't the warm nurturing type, so she took on looking after Lily as Lily was a Band-Aid baby and her parents were over it and each other quickly. Big has two grown children that have flown the nest only to return, her husband is retired, and her aging mother lives with them. Her home is bursting at the seams. And everyone needs something from her. Where are the keys, shoes etc. ask Mom?? It's insanity! When Lily begs her to go on the trip, she gives all the reasons she can't from being out of shape to all her mother's doctor's appointments. But Lily has a way of pushing all the right buttons and in this case I thought Lily had a point. Grown people should be able to figure out the basics of life. I was screaming, "Girl, go have a new experience!!"
🐻🐻🐻🐻
The novel is filled with well-developed characters that each bring something to the table. The mash up of unique situations and personalities was a huge plus while reading/listening. As you can imagine of course things don't go smoothly for the sisters out in the pristine wilderness and it's a lot of fun to read about. Mistakes are most definitely made, but lessons are learned and it's all rather lovely. Character growth explodes from the pages making it easy to get into one more chapter mode.
🛩️🛩️🛩️🛩️
The audiobook is narrated by Jesse Vilinsky and I was impressed with how each character was presented. It was easy to tell who was speaking because each character was voiced with unique nuance, inflection, and cadence.
🏕️🏕️🏕️🏕️
I'll be keeping an eye out for what Roe writes next!
Thank you to HarperAudio | Harper Perennial for providing an ARC and ALC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🏔️🏔️🏔️🏔️
Meet the Sisters
🫎🫎🫎🫎
Lily is the youngest and acts like it. She's beautiful, needy, charismatic, impulsive, and quick to push away the tasks she doesn't want to take on. Lily is heartbroken on quite a few levels and looking for an adventure to take her outside of her troubled life just for a bit. She jumps at the chance to take a guided Alaskan tour. She drags her sister along with her because her sister has been her support person her entire life.
🦊🦊🦊🦊
Bridget "Big" is the responsible one and so relatable. Her mother wasn't the warm nurturing type, so she took on looking after Lily as Lily was a Band-Aid baby and her parents were over it and each other quickly. Big has two grown children that have flown the nest only to return, her husband is retired, and her aging mother lives with them. Her home is bursting at the seams. And everyone needs something from her. Where are the keys, shoes etc. ask Mom?? It's insanity! When Lily begs her to go on the trip, she gives all the reasons she can't from being out of shape to all her mother's doctor's appointments. But Lily has a way of pushing all the right buttons and in this case I thought Lily had a point. Grown people should be able to figure out the basics of life. I was screaming, "Girl, go have a new experience!!"
🐻🐻🐻🐻
The novel is filled with well-developed characters that each bring something to the table. The mash up of unique situations and personalities was a huge plus while reading/listening. As you can imagine of course things don't go smoothly for the sisters out in the pristine wilderness and it's a lot of fun to read about. Mistakes are most definitely made, but lessons are learned and it's all rather lovely. Character growth explodes from the pages making it easy to get into one more chapter mode.
🛩️🛩️🛩️🛩️
The audiobook is narrated by Jesse Vilinsky and I was impressed with how each character was presented. It was easy to tell who was speaking because each character was voiced with unique nuance, inflection, and cadence.
🏕️🏕️🏕️🏕️
I'll be keeping an eye out for what Roe writes next!
Thank you to HarperAudio | Harper Perennial for providing an ARC and ALC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Big & Lily by Lisa Roe ★★★½☆
At first glance, Big & Lily looks like a lighthearted adventure novel set against the breathtaking backdrop of Alaska. While it certainly delivers on wilderness excursions, colorful tour companions, and a memorable guided expedition, I think the novel is fundamentally about something much deeper: codependency.
Bridget “Big” Ackerman has spent much of her life taking care of her younger sister, Lily. When Lily discovers that her husband, Eric, has been unfaithful, she insists that Big abandon everything and join her on an Alaskan tour—one where there’s no cell service, no easy escape, and plenty of opportunities for the sisters’ complicated relationship to come into sharp focus.
Although the title suggests this is equally Big and Lily’s story, it very much belongs to Big. Watching the sisters interact can honestly be uncomfortable at times. Lily is demanding, self-centered, and often treats Big terribly, even while navigating the collapse of her marriage. Early on, I found myself frustrated with her characterization, but eventually it clicked: that’s the point. This isn’t simply a story about sisters who don’t get along—it’s a thoughtful exploration of an unhealthy, enmeshed relationship and the emotional toll that codependency can take on the person who is always expected to rescue everyone else.
That psychological thread was far more interesting to me than the surface-level adventure, though I enjoyed that as well. Alaska makes for a fantastic setting, and the wilderness excursions add plenty of humor and excitement. The members of the tour group aren’t especially complex, but they’re entertaining companions who add warmth and personality to the journey.
The ending was particularly satisfying and brought Big’s emotional arc together in a way that felt earned.
I also highly recommend the audiobook. Jesse Vilinsky delivers an outstanding performance, easily earning 5 stars from me. She gives each character a distinct personality, effortlessly shifts between voices, and captures both the humor and emotional weight of the sisters’ relationship. This is one of those audiobooks that feels tailor-made for the format and is exceptionally easy to follow.
If you enjoy family dramas that explore complicated sibling relationships, stories of personal growth, and adventure novels set in the Alaskan wilderness, this is well worth picking up.
Thank you to the Libro.fm Influencer Program for providing me with an advanced listening copy.
Audiobook Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Jesse Vilinsky)
Story: ⭐⭐⭐½
Publication Date: August 11, 2026 (Harper Perennial)
At first glance, Big & Lily looks like a lighthearted adventure novel set against the breathtaking backdrop of Alaska. While it certainly delivers on wilderness excursions, colorful tour companions, and a memorable guided expedition, I think the novel is fundamentally about something much deeper: codependency.
Bridget “Big” Ackerman has spent much of her life taking care of her younger sister, Lily. When Lily discovers that her husband, Eric, has been unfaithful, she insists that Big abandon everything and join her on an Alaskan tour—one where there’s no cell service, no easy escape, and plenty of opportunities for the sisters’ complicated relationship to come into sharp focus.
Although the title suggests this is equally Big and Lily’s story, it very much belongs to Big. Watching the sisters interact can honestly be uncomfortable at times. Lily is demanding, self-centered, and often treats Big terribly, even while navigating the collapse of her marriage. Early on, I found myself frustrated with her characterization, but eventually it clicked: that’s the point. This isn’t simply a story about sisters who don’t get along—it’s a thoughtful exploration of an unhealthy, enmeshed relationship and the emotional toll that codependency can take on the person who is always expected to rescue everyone else.
That psychological thread was far more interesting to me than the surface-level adventure, though I enjoyed that as well. Alaska makes for a fantastic setting, and the wilderness excursions add plenty of humor and excitement. The members of the tour group aren’t especially complex, but they’re entertaining companions who add warmth and personality to the journey.
The ending was particularly satisfying and brought Big’s emotional arc together in a way that felt earned.
I also highly recommend the audiobook. Jesse Vilinsky delivers an outstanding performance, easily earning 5 stars from me. She gives each character a distinct personality, effortlessly shifts between voices, and captures both the humor and emotional weight of the sisters’ relationship. This is one of those audiobooks that feels tailor-made for the format and is exceptionally easy to follow.
If you enjoy family dramas that explore complicated sibling relationships, stories of personal growth, and adventure novels set in the Alaskan wilderness, this is well worth picking up.
Thank you to the Libro.fm Influencer Program for providing me with an advanced listening copy.
Audiobook Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Jesse Vilinsky)
Story: ⭐⭐⭐½
Publication Date: August 11, 2026 (Harper Perennial)
September 9, 2026
Lisa Roe’s Big & Lily came along with me in both paperback and audiobook, and somewhere between reading at home and listening on my commute, I became very invested in two sisters who had absolutely no business hiking through the Alaskan wilderness. 😂 Thank you to Harper Perennial for the gifted book and HarperAudio for the ALC. Tell me—if your sister asked you to disappear into Alaska with no cell service, bears, outdoor plumbing, and actual hiking involved, how quickly would you say absolutely not?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Bridget—known as Big—has spent most of her life taking care of everyone. Her grown kids, her retired husband, her demanding mother, and especially her younger sister Lily. She’s the woman with the list, the plan, and the belief that if she stops holding everything together, the whole darn thing might collapse.
Meanwhile, Big has always looked at Lily and thought her younger sister got the easier life.
Oh, how wrong we can be about the people closest to us.
When Lily discovers her husband is cheating, her supposedly perfect life blows apart, and somehow her solution is an Alaskan wilderness trek. Naturally, Big gets dragged along because…sisters. 😂
These two had me laughing, occasionally wanting to shake them, and recognizing that very particular sister relationship where you can be furious with someone and still defend her five seconds later. Lily definitely tested my patience, but Big was the one who really got me. Watching her slowly realize that taking care of everyone else doesn’t mean she has to disappear from her own life hit harder than I expected.
And the wilderness adventure? Lost luggage, freezing water, mud, bears, outhouses and two women who are very much NOT outdoorswomen. I would have chosen the Alaskan cruise and waved at them from my balcony with a cocktail. 🥂
I also loved the people they met along the trail. What begins as a group of strangers slowly becomes its own little trail family, and some of those friendships ended up being among my favorite parts.
Jesse Vilinsky narrates the audiobook and gives everyone such distinct personalities that switching between the book and audio was seamless.
Funny, messy, heartfelt, and ultimately a reminder that sometimes we don’t really see our sisters until we stop comparing our lives long enough to listen.
For those of you with sisters: what’s something about your relationship that nobody else could possibly understand?
#BigAndLily #LisaRoe #HarperPerennial #HarperAudio #Bookstagram #WomensFiction #SisterStories #AudiobookReview #BooksCoffeeBrews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Bridget—known as Big—has spent most of her life taking care of everyone. Her grown kids, her retired husband, her demanding mother, and especially her younger sister Lily. She’s the woman with the list, the plan, and the belief that if she stops holding everything together, the whole darn thing might collapse.
Meanwhile, Big has always looked at Lily and thought her younger sister got the easier life.
Oh, how wrong we can be about the people closest to us.
When Lily discovers her husband is cheating, her supposedly perfect life blows apart, and somehow her solution is an Alaskan wilderness trek. Naturally, Big gets dragged along because…sisters. 😂
These two had me laughing, occasionally wanting to shake them, and recognizing that very particular sister relationship where you can be furious with someone and still defend her five seconds later. Lily definitely tested my patience, but Big was the one who really got me. Watching her slowly realize that taking care of everyone else doesn’t mean she has to disappear from her own life hit harder than I expected.
And the wilderness adventure? Lost luggage, freezing water, mud, bears, outhouses and two women who are very much NOT outdoorswomen. I would have chosen the Alaskan cruise and waved at them from my balcony with a cocktail. 🥂
I also loved the people they met along the trail. What begins as a group of strangers slowly becomes its own little trail family, and some of those friendships ended up being among my favorite parts.
Jesse Vilinsky narrates the audiobook and gives everyone such distinct personalities that switching between the book and audio was seamless.
Funny, messy, heartfelt, and ultimately a reminder that sometimes we don’t really see our sisters until we stop comparing our lives long enough to listen.
For those of you with sisters: what’s something about your relationship that nobody else could possibly understand?
#BigAndLily #LisaRoe #HarperPerennial #HarperAudio #Bookstagram #WomensFiction #SisterStories #AudiobookReview #BooksCoffeeBrews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 - “There is nothing mediocre about you. Just the opposite. You have an enviable life. You have the life I want. I’ve always wanted it.”
Big thanks to Harper Perennial for the ARC and to Libro.fm for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!
I honestly wasn’t sure what I was getting into with this one but I ended up enjoying it so much more than I was expecting. It handles emotional topics beautiful while including genuinely funny moments that make this a heartwarming story.
The story follows Bridget, or Big, as she and her younger sister Lily as they embark on a survival trek in Alaska after Lily finds out her husband has been cheating. Big has always be a bit jealous of Lily and the perfect life she seemingly created, while Big feels overwhelmed by trying to balance her kids, her husband, her mother, and everything else around her. Through this journey, the sisters have nowhere to hide and have to confront everything they’ve ever felt about each other and their lives.
Big is a typical eldest daughter who feels responsible for everything regarding her family. She takes of everything and everyone, and it becomes exhausting. She doesn’t initially think going to Alaska with Lily is the best idea, but she eventually relents. The trip is full of mishaps and wild creatures, but it also shows both Big and Lily so much about themselves. They have such vulnerable conversations about their feelings toward the other, as each believes the other has the better life. They come out stronger for it.
The audiobook is narrated by Jesse Vilinsky and it is such a great listen. She brings the story to life so effortlessly, nailing each emotional beat to perfection. The nature of the story requires pivots from humor to emotion quickly and the narration is excellent. In the end this is a feel-good story, but the journey to get there isn’t always easy. It’s just a wonderfully story.
Big thanks to Harper Perennial for the ARC and to Libro.fm for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!
I honestly wasn’t sure what I was getting into with this one but I ended up enjoying it so much more than I was expecting. It handles emotional topics beautiful while including genuinely funny moments that make this a heartwarming story.
The story follows Bridget, or Big, as she and her younger sister Lily as they embark on a survival trek in Alaska after Lily finds out her husband has been cheating. Big has always be a bit jealous of Lily and the perfect life she seemingly created, while Big feels overwhelmed by trying to balance her kids, her husband, her mother, and everything else around her. Through this journey, the sisters have nowhere to hide and have to confront everything they’ve ever felt about each other and their lives.
Big is a typical eldest daughter who feels responsible for everything regarding her family. She takes of everything and everyone, and it becomes exhausting. She doesn’t initially think going to Alaska with Lily is the best idea, but she eventually relents. The trip is full of mishaps and wild creatures, but it also shows both Big and Lily so much about themselves. They have such vulnerable conversations about their feelings toward the other, as each believes the other has the better life. They come out stronger for it.
The audiobook is narrated by Jesse Vilinsky and it is such a great listen. She brings the story to life so effortlessly, nailing each emotional beat to perfection. The nature of the story requires pivots from humor to emotion quickly and the narration is excellent. In the end this is a feel-good story, but the journey to get there isn’t always easy. It’s just a wonderfully story.
August 30, 2026
Many thanks to Bibliolifestyle, Harper Perennial, and Libro.fm for my gifted copy!
After Lily’s seemingly perfect life implodes, she and her older sister Bridgett—Big—embark on a guided survival trek through the Alaskan wilderness. What begins as an adventure quickly forces the sisters to confront old resentments, their complicated relationship, and plenty of truths about themselves.
I’m honestly not sure how I feel about this one.
Let me start with this: I’m pretty sure I have never disliked a character as much as I disliked Lily. 😂
I generally love strong female characters and complicated sister relationships, so there was a lot about this premise that should have worked for me. Unfortunately, Lily made it incredibly difficult. I found her selfish, whiny, and extremely needy, and I struggled to get past her behavior enough to fully enjoy the story.
I absolutely loved her older sister, Big. She was easily the character I connected with most, although even she occasionally frustrated me because I wanted her to stop allowing Lily to behave the way she did.
So what did work?
The Alaskan wilderness was a fantastic backdrop, and I loved the concept of a guided survival trek. The secondary characters were also top-notch and added so much to the story. Despite my issues with Lily, I was invested in what happened and wanted to see how everything played out.
Jesse Vilinsky did a great job with the narration and made the Alaskan adventure easy to become immersed in.
Ultimately, this had a great premise, an incredible setting, and supporting characters I genuinely enjoyed. Unfortunately, when one of the main characters makes you spend most of the book wishing she’d get separated from the hiking group, it’s a little difficult to overcome. 😂
This one landed somewhere in the middle for me.
After Lily’s seemingly perfect life implodes, she and her older sister Bridgett—Big—embark on a guided survival trek through the Alaskan wilderness. What begins as an adventure quickly forces the sisters to confront old resentments, their complicated relationship, and plenty of truths about themselves.
I’m honestly not sure how I feel about this one.
Let me start with this: I’m pretty sure I have never disliked a character as much as I disliked Lily. 😂
I generally love strong female characters and complicated sister relationships, so there was a lot about this premise that should have worked for me. Unfortunately, Lily made it incredibly difficult. I found her selfish, whiny, and extremely needy, and I struggled to get past her behavior enough to fully enjoy the story.
I absolutely loved her older sister, Big. She was easily the character I connected with most, although even she occasionally frustrated me because I wanted her to stop allowing Lily to behave the way she did.
So what did work?
The Alaskan wilderness was a fantastic backdrop, and I loved the concept of a guided survival trek. The secondary characters were also top-notch and added so much to the story. Despite my issues with Lily, I was invested in what happened and wanted to see how everything played out.
Jesse Vilinsky did a great job with the narration and made the Alaskan adventure easy to become immersed in.
Ultimately, this had a great premise, an incredible setting, and supporting characters I genuinely enjoyed. Unfortunately, when one of the main characters makes you spend most of the book wishing she’d get separated from the hiking group, it’s a little difficult to overcome. 😂
This one landed somewhere in the middle for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Bridget was eight years old when Lily was born and she started taking care of her soon after her self-involved mother brought the baby home from the hospital. Lily couldn't pronounce Bridget's name, so soon she called her "Big" for big sister. Forty years later, Bridget is still taking care of Lily and Lily is still calling her Big. Bridget takes care of everybody else, too. She takes care of her two grown children who left the nest and then came back, needier than ever. She takes care of her husband who retired early and is at loose ends. And then there is her mother, who lives in a special little house in Bridget's back yard and shows up in Bridget's kitchen early every morning to get a cup of coffee, breakfast, and to present her list of demands. Since she's spent her entire life taking care of family, Big does it very well. She feels responsible for everyone's happiness and is sure they would all fall apart without her. Yes, she is exhausted, but that's just the way it is. Then Lily's life falls apart and she needs her big sister more than ever before. She wants Big to go away with her to help her heal. Even though Bridget is sure her family will collapse if she's not there to hold it all together, she agrees to go on the trip Lily arranges. It's a guided hiking and camping trip in Alaska. Lily assures her it will be fun. But Big has serious doubts, because neither of the New Jersey sisters has ever camped before. Or hiked. After a rough start, the sisters find strength they didn't know they had, and understanding they've needed for a long time. This is a story full of people you like even more as you get to know them. It's full of humor, but has enough serious moments to keep it real.
I read an advance copy. Lily & Big will publish August 2026.
I read an advance copy. Lily & Big will publish August 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When we meet Bridget, aka "Big," we quickly learn that she is the person holding everything together for her entire family, which includes her little sister, Lily. Lily has just discovered her husband is cheating on her, and decides she needs to get away from it all, and apparently a guided excursion in Alaska was as far away from Jersey as she could fathom. She convinces Big to join her (or manipulates, hard to say) and so begins a rather zany adventure in the wilderness.
This was a quick and light read, with some heartwarming and funny moments that made it enjoyable. Being an oldest daughter myself possibly made me more inclined to find Lily's treatment of Big to be rude and selfish, but I had a hard time liking her. The other characters in their excursion group were entertaining though I felt sorry for poor Brick, having to deal with these sisters who at times appeared ridiculously uninformed about nature. As a non outdoorsy person, even I was having a hard time believing they were that ignorant. I will also say that despite being set in Alaska, it felt like you could have told me it was set in nearly any mountainous area and I'd believe you, though the required airplanes did lend a little more Alaskan atmosphere.
There was something about the story overall that made me feel like I was watching a Hallmark movie, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I had just gone into this one hoping for a little more depth, so I was a little disappointed there. If you want a quick, fun read about two sisters who are very much out of their suburban element while trekking through Alaska, then I would definitely recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
This was a quick and light read, with some heartwarming and funny moments that made it enjoyable. Being an oldest daughter myself possibly made me more inclined to find Lily's treatment of Big to be rude and selfish, but I had a hard time liking her. The other characters in their excursion group were entertaining though I felt sorry for poor Brick, having to deal with these sisters who at times appeared ridiculously uninformed about nature. As a non outdoorsy person, even I was having a hard time believing they were that ignorant. I will also say that despite being set in Alaska, it felt like you could have told me it was set in nearly any mountainous area and I'd believe you, though the required airplanes did lend a little more Alaskan atmosphere.
There was something about the story overall that made me feel like I was watching a Hallmark movie, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I had just gone into this one hoping for a little more depth, so I was a little disappointed there. If you want a quick, fun read about two sisters who are very much out of their suburban element while trekking through Alaska, then I would definitely recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book was such a fun read, and I couldn't help comparing it to my own relationship with my younger sister. Let's just say there were more than a few moments that felt very familiar.
The Plot
Bridget, or "Big," is the older sister who carries the weight of family expectations. She's dependable, practical, and always ends up being the responsible one. Then there's Lily, the carefree younger sister who seems to land on her feet no matter what. When Lily's life falls apart after discovering her husband's affair, she does what she does best and persuades (or manipulates) Big to join her on an adventure. What follows is anything but relaxing.
My Thoughts
I'll admit my own bias from the start. As an older sister, I spent most of this book wanting to shake Lily, and I kept hoping she'd win me over. Spoiler alert: she didn't. I found her manipulative, impulsive, and endlessly frustrating.
That said, the author absolutely nails the sibling dynamic. The push and pull between the sisters feels incredibly authentic, balancing laugh-out-loud moments with genuine heart. Their relationship is messy, complicated, and completely believable.
The wilderness setting is vividly brought to life, although I was firmly on Big's side. I'd have chosen the cruise over camping without a second thought! Reading about their outdoor adventure was hilarious, especially the "bear bag" that has to hold absolutely everything with a scent so you don't attract bears (let that everything sink in!) That's one travel tip I won't be forgetting anytime soon.
Thanks to Harper Perennial and the author for my early copy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and hope there will be more in the works soon.
The Plot
Bridget, or "Big," is the older sister who carries the weight of family expectations. She's dependable, practical, and always ends up being the responsible one. Then there's Lily, the carefree younger sister who seems to land on her feet no matter what. When Lily's life falls apart after discovering her husband's affair, she does what she does best and persuades (or manipulates) Big to join her on an adventure. What follows is anything but relaxing.
My Thoughts
I'll admit my own bias from the start. As an older sister, I spent most of this book wanting to shake Lily, and I kept hoping she'd win me over. Spoiler alert: she didn't. I found her manipulative, impulsive, and endlessly frustrating.
That said, the author absolutely nails the sibling dynamic. The push and pull between the sisters feels incredibly authentic, balancing laugh-out-loud moments with genuine heart. Their relationship is messy, complicated, and completely believable.
The wilderness setting is vividly brought to life, although I was firmly on Big's side. I'd have chosen the cruise over camping without a second thought! Reading about their outdoor adventure was hilarious, especially the "bear bag" that has to hold absolutely everything with a scent so you don't attract bears (let that everything sink in!) That's one travel tip I won't be forgetting anytime soon.
Thanks to Harper Perennial and the author for my early copy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and hope there will be more in the works soon.
September 13, 2026
This has been my least favorite book I've finished reading this year so far. As short as it was, it took more effort than it should have to get through it. If not for a book club I'm in, I would have DNF'd this at the first chapter.
Neither Big or Lily are likable. Big is a pushover who has no boundaries and therefore suffers through being every person's burntout caretaker, while Lily is selfish, self-centered, and immature. Though their growth is clearly the intention of the book, the execution suffers when that growth doesn't happen until the last 20% of the book at the latest. For the first 80%, we're forced to deal with Lily's hypocrisy, brattiness, and ingratitude, never taking accountability for her actions, and always relying on Big to do everything for her despite being a grown adult in her 40's.
I thought at first that me being an only child lent a hand as to why I struggled to care for these characters, trying to be empathetic as I could be towards Lily's situation after being cheated on, but having to read about two middle-age sisters with the emotional maturity of a teenager (which is probably an insult to teenagers in this case) made this reading experience not enjoyable at all until the end of the book. The book tries so hard to convince the reader that Lily deserves to be a mother and that she'd be great with children, but her demeanor and attitude throughout the whole book really showed me otherwise. Her desire to be a mother came off as superficial, making me think of a child begging for a dog without truly understanding the responsibilities of caring for another living being.
In the end, this book was not for me. I understand where its appeal lies, but it's hard for me to appreciate when there are more things to dislike when reading it.
Neither Big or Lily are likable. Big is a pushover who has no boundaries and therefore suffers through being every person's burntout caretaker, while Lily is selfish, self-centered, and immature. Though their growth is clearly the intention of the book, the execution suffers when that growth doesn't happen until the last 20% of the book at the latest. For the first 80%, we're forced to deal with Lily's hypocrisy, brattiness, and ingratitude, never taking accountability for her actions, and always relying on Big to do everything for her despite being a grown adult in her 40's.
I thought at first that me being an only child lent a hand as to why I struggled to care for these characters, trying to be empathetic as I could be towards Lily's situation after being cheated on, but having to read about two middle-age sisters with the emotional maturity of a teenager (which is probably an insult to teenagers in this case) made this reading experience not enjoyable at all until the end of the book. The book tries so hard to convince the reader that Lily deserves to be a mother and that she'd be great with children, but her demeanor and attitude throughout the whole book really showed me otherwise. Her desire to be a mother came off as superficial, making me think of a child begging for a dog without truly understanding the responsibilities of caring for another living being.
In the end, this book was not for me. I understand where its appeal lies, but it's hard for me to appreciate when there are more things to dislike when reading it.
August 12, 2026
Okay, so this book was something…
We have two sisters, Bridget (Big) and Lily, both middle-aged and VERY different. Bridget is the quintessential eldest daughter/caregiver/fixer. She takes care of everyone: her family, her mom, her sister… basically everyone.
Lily, on the other hand, is 41 and has never really figured out how to navigate life without Bridget. So when Lily finds out her husband is having an affair, she decides she needs to get away and heads to Alaska. And because she is so dependent on her sister, Bridget comes along.
Except Lily made this whole trip sound like it was going to be some cute little glamping/cruise situation. Girl. It was NOT. This was wilderness wilderness.
The real story isn’t even the Alaskan adventure. It’s the relationship between these two sisters.
And Lily drove me absolutely nuts. 😩 She was rude, condescending, entitled and incredibly immature at times. I kept thinking, Ma’am, you are 41. She just expected Bridget to handle everything, while Bridget had spent her entire life being the person who fixed things for everyone.
That push-and-pull between them was definitely interesting and I appreciated watching them both confront some hard truths about themselves while they’re thrown into this very unfamiliar Alaskan wilderness.
The side characters were also a fun addition. They brought a lot of charm and humor to the story and while we didn’t get huge character development until very late, I thought the ending wrapped everything up really nicely.
Overall, I enjoyed the humor, the setting and the themes of family, codependency and figuring out who you are outside of the roles you’ve always played.
We have two sisters, Bridget (Big) and Lily, both middle-aged and VERY different. Bridget is the quintessential eldest daughter/caregiver/fixer. She takes care of everyone: her family, her mom, her sister… basically everyone.
Lily, on the other hand, is 41 and has never really figured out how to navigate life without Bridget. So when Lily finds out her husband is having an affair, she decides she needs to get away and heads to Alaska. And because she is so dependent on her sister, Bridget comes along.
Except Lily made this whole trip sound like it was going to be some cute little glamping/cruise situation. Girl. It was NOT. This was wilderness wilderness.
The real story isn’t even the Alaskan adventure. It’s the relationship between these two sisters.
And Lily drove me absolutely nuts. 😩 She was rude, condescending, entitled and incredibly immature at times. I kept thinking, Ma’am, you are 41. She just expected Bridget to handle everything, while Bridget had spent her entire life being the person who fixed things for everyone.
That push-and-pull between them was definitely interesting and I appreciated watching them both confront some hard truths about themselves while they’re thrown into this very unfamiliar Alaskan wilderness.
The side characters were also a fun addition. They brought a lot of charm and humor to the story and while we didn’t get huge character development until very late, I thought the ending wrapped everything up really nicely.
Overall, I enjoyed the humor, the setting and the themes of family, codependency and figuring out who you are outside of the roles you’ve always played.
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