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The Promise Girls
In an emotionally rich and captivating new novel, New York Times bestselling author Marie Bostwick reunites three sisters whose deep bond is rooted in an unconventional past.
Every child prodigy grows up eventually. For the Promise sisters, escaping their mother's narcissism and the notoriety that came with her bestselling book hasn't been easy. Minerva Promise claimed that her three "test tube" daughters--gifted pianist Joanie, artistic Meg, and storyteller Avery--were engineered and molded to be geniuses. In adulthood, their modest lives fall far short of her grand ambitions. But now, twenty years after the book's release, she hopes to redeem herself by taking part in a new documentary.
Meg, who hasn't picked up a paintbrush in years, adamantly refuses to participate, until a car accident leaves her with crushing medical bills. While she recuperates in Seattle, the three sisters reluctantly meet with filmmaker Hal Seeger, another former prodigy. Like them, he's familiar with the weight of failed potential. But as he digs deeper, he uncovers secrets they've hidden from each other--and a revelation that will challenge their beliefs, even as it spurs them to forge their own extraordinary lives at last.
"Reading Marie Bostwick is like wrapping yourself up in a warm, hand-crafted quilt. Her books, rich in character and plot, are stitched together by a skilled wordsmith." --Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"THE PROMISE GIRLS is a beautiful story about the ties that bind--love, laughter, memories, even secrets kept so long they become a part of the fabric of a family. Marie Bostwick exquisitely tells the tale of the three Promise girls, former child prodigies who learn to heal the scars of a bitter past so that they can love--and forgive--again." --Melanie Benjamin, New York Times Best Selling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue
Every child prodigy grows up eventually. For the Promise sisters, escaping their mother's narcissism and the notoriety that came with her bestselling book hasn't been easy. Minerva Promise claimed that her three "test tube" daughters--gifted pianist Joanie, artistic Meg, and storyteller Avery--were engineered and molded to be geniuses. In adulthood, their modest lives fall far short of her grand ambitions. But now, twenty years after the book's release, she hopes to redeem herself by taking part in a new documentary.
Meg, who hasn't picked up a paintbrush in years, adamantly refuses to participate, until a car accident leaves her with crushing medical bills. While she recuperates in Seattle, the three sisters reluctantly meet with filmmaker Hal Seeger, another former prodigy. Like them, he's familiar with the weight of failed potential. But as he digs deeper, he uncovers secrets they've hidden from each other--and a revelation that will challenge their beliefs, even as it spurs them to forge their own extraordinary lives at last.
"Reading Marie Bostwick is like wrapping yourself up in a warm, hand-crafted quilt. Her books, rich in character and plot, are stitched together by a skilled wordsmith." --Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"THE PROMISE GIRLS is a beautiful story about the ties that bind--love, laughter, memories, even secrets kept so long they become a part of the fabric of a family. Marie Bostwick exquisitely tells the tale of the three Promise girls, former child prodigies who learn to heal the scars of a bitter past so that they can love--and forgive--again." --Melanie Benjamin, New York Times Best Selling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue
410 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2017
577 people are currently reading
3496 people want to read
About the author
Marie Bostwick
42 books1,815 followersMarie Bostwick is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of uplifting historical and contemporary fiction. She lives in the state of Washington and travels frequently to sign books, speak to reading groups, and meet her readers. Keep up with Marie, her travels, new releases and lifestyle blog, Fiercely Marie, at www.mariebostwick.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 347 reviews
October 14, 2017
EXCERPT: Three weeks into the book tour, Joanie still isn't used to the silence of television studios, ponderous silence that feels like being closed in a concrete box with wall so thick no noise from the outside world can penetrate, just as no sound emanating inside can escape. Joanie can scream as loud as she wants and no one will hear her.
Joanie, Meg, and Avery, and their mother sit in upholstered side chairs, like the ones you see in the waiting rooms of doctors offices, motionless, waiting. Avery is so little her feet can't touch the floor, but she doesn't kick her legs or even fidget.
The audience is still as well. They stare at Joanie and her little sisters in a way that makes her think about people at the zoo staring through the glass at the reptile house, waiting for the snakes to do something interesting.
Soon they will - she will. If she doesn't lose her nerve.
THE BLURB: Every child prodigy grows up eventually. For the Promise sisters, escaping their mother's narcissism and the notoriety that came with her bestselling book hasn't been easy. Minerva Promise claimed that her three "test tube" daughters--gifted pianist Joanie, artistic Meg, and storyteller Avery--were engineered and molded to be geniuses. In adulthood, their modest lives fall far short of her grand ambitions. But now, twenty years after the book's release, she hopes to redeem herself by taking part in a new documentary.
Meg, who hasn't picked up a paintbrush in years, adamantly refuses to participate, until a car accident leaves her with crushing medical bills. While she recuperates in Seattle, the three sisters reluctantly meet with filmmaker Hal Seeger, another former prodigy. Like them, he's familiar with the weight of failed potential. But as he digs deeper, he uncovers secrets they've hidden from each other--and a revelation that will challenge their beliefs, even as it spurs them to forge their own extraordinary lives at last.
MY THOUGHTS: Family secrets and lies. Always a winner with me, especially when it is as well written and captivating as The Promise Girls by Marie Bostwick. This is the first time I have read anything by this author, but it won't be the last. She will be joining my very short list of 'go to' authors for when I want a rest from the murder and mystery that is my normal fare.
I can say it no better than this- "Reading Marie Bostwick is like wrapping yourself up in a warm, hand-crafted quilt. Her books, rich in character and plot, are stitched together by a skilled wordsmith." --Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author.
Bostwick has woven a captivating story around a very different type of family. And she has done it well, giving us a look at a childhood that under no circumstances could be termed normal, until it all blows up in their faces, and then we meet the sisters again as adults, all living lives very different than what we might have expected.
In her letter at the end of the book, the author writes that this book is incredibly special to her, a rare instance when she finished the final manuscript and 'felt entirely, completely, incandescently happy' with her work. I felt the same way upon reading it. The Promise Girls is a 'feel good' book. A book about family and love, and how easy it is to lose your way in spite of, or perhaps because of, best intentions.
Thank you to Kensington Books via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Promise Girls for review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
Joanie, Meg, and Avery, and their mother sit in upholstered side chairs, like the ones you see in the waiting rooms of doctors offices, motionless, waiting. Avery is so little her feet can't touch the floor, but she doesn't kick her legs or even fidget.
The audience is still as well. They stare at Joanie and her little sisters in a way that makes her think about people at the zoo staring through the glass at the reptile house, waiting for the snakes to do something interesting.
Soon they will - she will. If she doesn't lose her nerve.
THE BLURB: Every child prodigy grows up eventually. For the Promise sisters, escaping their mother's narcissism and the notoriety that came with her bestselling book hasn't been easy. Minerva Promise claimed that her three "test tube" daughters--gifted pianist Joanie, artistic Meg, and storyteller Avery--were engineered and molded to be geniuses. In adulthood, their modest lives fall far short of her grand ambitions. But now, twenty years after the book's release, she hopes to redeem herself by taking part in a new documentary.
Meg, who hasn't picked up a paintbrush in years, adamantly refuses to participate, until a car accident leaves her with crushing medical bills. While she recuperates in Seattle, the three sisters reluctantly meet with filmmaker Hal Seeger, another former prodigy. Like them, he's familiar with the weight of failed potential. But as he digs deeper, he uncovers secrets they've hidden from each other--and a revelation that will challenge their beliefs, even as it spurs them to forge their own extraordinary lives at last.
MY THOUGHTS: Family secrets and lies. Always a winner with me, especially when it is as well written and captivating as The Promise Girls by Marie Bostwick. This is the first time I have read anything by this author, but it won't be the last. She will be joining my very short list of 'go to' authors for when I want a rest from the murder and mystery that is my normal fare.
I can say it no better than this- "Reading Marie Bostwick is like wrapping yourself up in a warm, hand-crafted quilt. Her books, rich in character and plot, are stitched together by a skilled wordsmith." --Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author.
Bostwick has woven a captivating story around a very different type of family. And she has done it well, giving us a look at a childhood that under no circumstances could be termed normal, until it all blows up in their faces, and then we meet the sisters again as adults, all living lives very different than what we might have expected.
In her letter at the end of the book, the author writes that this book is incredibly special to her, a rare instance when she finished the final manuscript and 'felt entirely, completely, incandescently happy' with her work. I felt the same way upon reading it. The Promise Girls is a 'feel good' book. A book about family and love, and how easy it is to lose your way in spite of, or perhaps because of, best intentions.
Thank you to Kensington Books via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Promise Girls for review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
April 8, 2017
The Promise Girls
Marie Bostwick
Received from Netgalley
Oh how I loved THE PROMISE GIRLS! Meg, Joanie, and Avery are sisters who were test tube babies and raised by their single mother. Minerva, their mother, wrote a book about them and how they are child protégés. Joanie, who plays the piano, decides one day, to defy her mother and totally messes up her piano recital during a nationally televised show. Now their lives will never be the same. Minerva smacks Joanie right on TV and starts screaming at her. They take the girls away from her and they enter the foster care system.
Now, it's twenty years later and the girls have all reconnected in Seattle. They do not talk to their mother, want nothing to do with her, and are all being bugged by a producer who wants to do a documentary about them. None of them want to do it, but Meg, the middle sister, has a car accident and racks up some huge bills. She smacked into a wall on the highway and has no memory of her life before the crash. Joanie decides to make the movie to pay for Meg's hospital bills. THE PROMISE GIRLS are going to learn lots of secrets about what their mother did and the lies she told. Some of those lies are huge but none of the sisters are without their secrets either! None of them have been doing what she pushed them to do when they were younger and they find out why that is while filming the documentary.
THE PROMISE GIRLS by Marie Bostwick pulled me right in as all of Marie's books do. I loved learning about each of the sisters and found myself shaking my head reading about Minerva. The sisters are forced to confront issues and figure out why they are the way they are. The closeness these sisters share is heart warming and they always have each other's backs. Will these three sisters ever make peace with the past and their mother? Their story is a very unique one and the mystery through out had me flipping the pages like a mad woman at some points. Once I started reading THE PROMISE GIRLS it was very hard to stop. The twists and turns kept me reading late into the night. I love when an author can do that to me!
Marie Bostwick
Received from Netgalley
Oh how I loved THE PROMISE GIRLS! Meg, Joanie, and Avery are sisters who were test tube babies and raised by their single mother. Minerva, their mother, wrote a book about them and how they are child protégés. Joanie, who plays the piano, decides one day, to defy her mother and totally messes up her piano recital during a nationally televised show. Now their lives will never be the same. Minerva smacks Joanie right on TV and starts screaming at her. They take the girls away from her and they enter the foster care system.
Now, it's twenty years later and the girls have all reconnected in Seattle. They do not talk to their mother, want nothing to do with her, and are all being bugged by a producer who wants to do a documentary about them. None of them want to do it, but Meg, the middle sister, has a car accident and racks up some huge bills. She smacked into a wall on the highway and has no memory of her life before the crash. Joanie decides to make the movie to pay for Meg's hospital bills. THE PROMISE GIRLS are going to learn lots of secrets about what their mother did and the lies she told. Some of those lies are huge but none of the sisters are without their secrets either! None of them have been doing what she pushed them to do when they were younger and they find out why that is while filming the documentary.
THE PROMISE GIRLS by Marie Bostwick pulled me right in as all of Marie's books do. I loved learning about each of the sisters and found myself shaking my head reading about Minerva. The sisters are forced to confront issues and figure out why they are the way they are. The closeness these sisters share is heart warming and they always have each other's backs. Will these three sisters ever make peace with the past and their mother? Their story is a very unique one and the mystery through out had me flipping the pages like a mad woman at some points. Once I started reading THE PROMISE GIRLS it was very hard to stop. The twists and turns kept me reading late into the night. I love when an author can do that to me!
February 7, 2019
Being this is my 9th book by Marie Bostwick, I was excited to hear her latest book was out!!! I found myself disappointed in this one though. It seemed to drag in the middle and parts of it was so “far fetched” that I just could not finish it. I really wanted to like this more than I did. DNF at 47%.
April 1, 2021
A new book from Marie Bostwick has never dissapointed me... including this novel. I did not read it as much as I seemed to absorb the story. I could see the characters in my minds-eye and was able to watch their lives as I might have been watching a film. The author writes descriptions of locataion and characters so well I zipped through the book feeling afterwards as if I took a trip to Seattle and while there, made new friends.
A quote actually sums up my experience: "People want to believe in what's magical. Even adults." (page 112 in paperback)
A quote actually sums up my experience: "People want to believe in what's magical. Even adults." (page 112 in paperback)
January 12, 2018
The Promise girls, three "test tube" sisters have been paraded before audiences by their mother, Minerva, as child prodigies. The oldest, Joanie, is a gifted pianist, Meg, an aspiring artist and Avery is being groomed to be an author. Tired of feeling used by their narcissistic mother, Joanie intentionally makes an error in her performance on live TV. Minerva's reaction is volatile, greatly diminishing their relationship. Now 20 years later, none of the girls have fulfilled the grand ambitions of their mother. Hal Seeger, a documentary filmmaker has always been fascinated with their story and is seeking their approval to document their lives. For Joanie, Meg and Avery it opens the door for them to examine their choices and consider the secrets they've kept.
Marie Bostwick has a gift for developing characters in a way that you care about them and want to know them.
Favorite quotes to offer inspiration to be our best:
"People want to believe in what's magical. Even adults. But it's easier with children. They still remember how to pretend. Kid's have faith. That's our natural mind-set, the thing that makes poets pen verse and inventors invent. But somewhere along the way, most grown-ups default to doubt. It's still in there, though-the need to believe."
"She was not meant to live simply to endure, but to thrive, to create, and in doing so reflect the glory of creation itself, and the Creator who had fashioned her for this purpose."
Marie Bostwick has a gift for developing characters in a way that you care about them and want to know them.
Favorite quotes to offer inspiration to be our best:
"People want to believe in what's magical. Even adults. But it's easier with children. They still remember how to pretend. Kid's have faith. That's our natural mind-set, the thing that makes poets pen verse and inventors invent. But somewhere along the way, most grown-ups default to doubt. It's still in there, though-the need to believe."
"She was not meant to live simply to endure, but to thrive, to create, and in doing so reflect the glory of creation itself, and the Creator who had fashioned her for this purpose."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2017
It started out really well, but by the middle I was frustrated and bored, and by the end I was rolling my eyes so hard I think I pulled a muscle. Yecch.
March 23, 2017
The Promise Girls by Marie Bostwick
Child prodigies crafted in the womb for greatness, promised success, prodded by their mother...perfectly planned…then…everything changed when one of the Promise girls decided to be not so perfect on live TV. Twenty years later the story picks up to tell us what the Promise sisters are up to and how they are getting along. One is married, one is a single parent and the third is a mermaid. All have issues to deal with from their childhood. None of them are doing what their mother pushed them toward. The catalyst of a major life threatening accident and the need for money encourages the sisters to do a documentary that will tell the world what happened to “The Promise Girls” once they became adults.
I was drawn into the story as I read and became invested in the outcome of each of the sisters. As revelations were made about what happened after the debacle on live TV and how it impacted each of the girls…I wished that their lives could have been different. Passion and promise are not the only things that create professional superstar status – there has to be drive and will and belief in oneself that the sisters seemed to lose at points in their lives. I will say that each thrived in her own way and that by the end of the book I felt that all three would eventually be able to enjoy their talents and gifts and realize the promise their lives held in store for the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC. This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
Child prodigies crafted in the womb for greatness, promised success, prodded by their mother...perfectly planned…then…everything changed when one of the Promise girls decided to be not so perfect on live TV. Twenty years later the story picks up to tell us what the Promise sisters are up to and how they are getting along. One is married, one is a single parent and the third is a mermaid. All have issues to deal with from their childhood. None of them are doing what their mother pushed them toward. The catalyst of a major life threatening accident and the need for money encourages the sisters to do a documentary that will tell the world what happened to “The Promise Girls” once they became adults.
I was drawn into the story as I read and became invested in the outcome of each of the sisters. As revelations were made about what happened after the debacle on live TV and how it impacted each of the girls…I wished that their lives could have been different. Passion and promise are not the only things that create professional superstar status – there has to be drive and will and belief in oneself that the sisters seemed to lose at points in their lives. I will say that each thrived in her own way and that by the end of the book I felt that all three would eventually be able to enjoy their talents and gifts and realize the promise their lives held in store for the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC. This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
May 23, 2017
I found this book title on a list (somewhere?) of books to be read this summer....i liked it! The story line and characters were interesting and it was an enjoyable quick read...
Every child prodigy grows up eventually. For the Promise sisters, escaping their mother’s narcissism and the notoriety that came with her bestselling book hasn’t been easy. Minerva Promise claimed that her three “test tube” daughters—gifted pianist Joanie, artistic Meg, and storyteller Avery—were engineered and molded to be geniuses. In adulthood, their modest lives fall far short of her grand ambitions.
Every child prodigy grows up eventually. For the Promise sisters, escaping their mother’s narcissism and the notoriety that came with her bestselling book hasn’t been easy. Minerva Promise claimed that her three “test tube” daughters—gifted pianist Joanie, artistic Meg, and storyteller Avery—were engineered and molded to be geniuses. In adulthood, their modest lives fall far short of her grand ambitions.
March 5, 2017
The Promise Girls is quite an emotional read. I enjoyed the three sisters' stories. The turmoil their mother put them through can be relatable for many. The only complaint I have is I would've like to see more about the sisters individually. Overall, a pretty good read.
4 stars
4 stars
August 30, 2024
3 stars is generous. This was such a meh book. The only reason I didn’t DNF is because it’s for a book club
July 2, 2019
My expectations for Bostwick fell flat in the Promise Girls. The 80% in the middle of this book dulled and dragged on. The mystery of the family didn't come to light until 90% through the book...and then it was o.k. with all the characters. Felt awkward with a lackluster of emotion that was supposed to lead up to a big reveal. But, I strove on to finish and find out the story behind the Promise sisters.
I'll pick up another Bostwick to be sure but this didn't do it for me. The narrator had better voice for the B role characters than the main characters.
I'll pick up another Bostwick to be sure but this didn't do it for me. The narrator had better voice for the B role characters than the main characters.
March 9, 2017
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Promise Girls by Marie Bostwick that I read and reviewed.
This book was just okay for me. I really could not get into the way the story was being told or connect that well with the three Promise sisters. For me things just seemed to drag on a bit too long and I never felt like I was part of the book.
I am giving The Promise Girls three out of five stars.
This book was just okay for me. I really could not get into the way the story was being told or connect that well with the three Promise sisters. For me things just seemed to drag on a bit too long and I never felt like I was part of the book.
I am giving The Promise Girls three out of five stars.
August 12, 2017
A feel good tale about sisters. Nothing too dramatic - an easy read.
March 27, 2017
The Promise Girls by Marie Bostwick is an uplifting book of healing and forgiveness.
The Promise girls are three daughters of a domineering mother, Minerva, who pushed the girls to reach-and exceed-their artist potential. Oldest daughter Joanie was a piano playing child prodigy who deliberately sabotaged Minerva's publicity tour during their appearance on a talk show. Now twenty years later, the sisters are closer than ever but other than youngest sister, Avery, they remain estranged from their mom.
Joanie is a never married single mom to sixteen year old Walt and works from home. Middle sister Meg is happily married to Asher and mother of a teenage daughter, sixteen year old Trina. Meg eventually gave up painting to help run Asher's construction business but she is not exactly happy when she is involved in a serious car accident which leaves her with amnesia. Twenty-five year old Avery flits from one job to another and is happiest when she dons her mermaid persona for children's parties. After discovering how much money Meg owes for her hospital bills, the three girls reluctantly agree to star in Hal Seeger's upcoming documentary. Will the documentary help Joanie, Meg and Avery come to terms with their painful past? Or will the shocking revelations destroy their family?
Throughout the course of the novel, the sisters are forced to confront their unresolved issues from their dysfunctional childhood. Joanie has not touched a piano in years and her lucrative sewing career fulfills her creative outlet. Up until recently, Meg has been deliriously happy but in the weeks leading up to her accident, she has become emotionally and physically distant from Asher and her relationship with Trina is also a bit troubled. Avery comes across as somewhat flighty but there is much more to her than meets the eye. Of the three sisters, she undergoes the biggest transformation since she has struggling to fit her niche.
The sisters are very close but this does not mean they are not harboring secrets from one another. Joanie and Meg are quite older than Avery so their mother's influence on their individual "genius" talents was much more in depth. They also more scarred by their childhoods but Joanie in particular is haunted by the events that her actions set in motion. All three sisters agree that Minerva is toxic, but Avery is much more forgiving of her mother's mistakes and missteps than Meg and Joanie. Will they feel betrayed when Avery reveals the depth of her relationship with their mother? Or will Meg and Joanie understand why she feels compelled to maintain contact with her? And will the sisters be able to forgive each other when long held secrets are finally uncovered? And what will happen when Minerva confesses the truth about the past?
The Promise Girls is an incredibly heartwarming novel about a family who unexpectedly gets the opportunity to make peace with their pasts. The growth of the characters is phenomenal and occurs at a realistic pace. The novel's conclusion is a little rushed and the resolution of Minerva's part of the storyline does not ring true. Despite the somewhat unsatisfactory ending, readers of contemporary women's fiction will enjoy this newest release from Marie Bostwick.
The Promise girls are three daughters of a domineering mother, Minerva, who pushed the girls to reach-and exceed-their artist potential. Oldest daughter Joanie was a piano playing child prodigy who deliberately sabotaged Minerva's publicity tour during their appearance on a talk show. Now twenty years later, the sisters are closer than ever but other than youngest sister, Avery, they remain estranged from their mom.
Joanie is a never married single mom to sixteen year old Walt and works from home. Middle sister Meg is happily married to Asher and mother of a teenage daughter, sixteen year old Trina. Meg eventually gave up painting to help run Asher's construction business but she is not exactly happy when she is involved in a serious car accident which leaves her with amnesia. Twenty-five year old Avery flits from one job to another and is happiest when she dons her mermaid persona for children's parties. After discovering how much money Meg owes for her hospital bills, the three girls reluctantly agree to star in Hal Seeger's upcoming documentary. Will the documentary help Joanie, Meg and Avery come to terms with their painful past? Or will the shocking revelations destroy their family?
Throughout the course of the novel, the sisters are forced to confront their unresolved issues from their dysfunctional childhood. Joanie has not touched a piano in years and her lucrative sewing career fulfills her creative outlet. Up until recently, Meg has been deliriously happy but in the weeks leading up to her accident, she has become emotionally and physically distant from Asher and her relationship with Trina is also a bit troubled. Avery comes across as somewhat flighty but there is much more to her than meets the eye. Of the three sisters, she undergoes the biggest transformation since she has struggling to fit her niche.
The sisters are very close but this does not mean they are not harboring secrets from one another. Joanie and Meg are quite older than Avery so their mother's influence on their individual "genius" talents was much more in depth. They also more scarred by their childhoods but Joanie in particular is haunted by the events that her actions set in motion. All three sisters agree that Minerva is toxic, but Avery is much more forgiving of her mother's mistakes and missteps than Meg and Joanie. Will they feel betrayed when Avery reveals the depth of her relationship with their mother? Or will Meg and Joanie understand why she feels compelled to maintain contact with her? And will the sisters be able to forgive each other when long held secrets are finally uncovered? And what will happen when Minerva confesses the truth about the past?
The Promise Girls is an incredibly heartwarming novel about a family who unexpectedly gets the opportunity to make peace with their pasts. The growth of the characters is phenomenal and occurs at a realistic pace. The novel's conclusion is a little rushed and the resolution of Minerva's part of the storyline does not ring true. Despite the somewhat unsatisfactory ending, readers of contemporary women's fiction will enjoy this newest release from Marie Bostwick.
May 30, 2017
The music filled every part of her, flooding into her empty spaces, salving the aches she had ignored for so long that aching that begun to feel like her natural state. It was not. She was not meant to live simply to endure, but to thrive, to create, and in doing so reflect the glory of creation itself, and the Creator who had fashioned her for this purpose.
Sometimes you get in your hand a book that you don't want to end. You love the characters, the plot and you know that there is more...so much more. I don't get that often in a book. I may like it, enjoy it but many times I am ready to move on to the next best thing but this one touched me.
It all stems from the Promise sisters. All three sisters are gifted in their fields of music, art, and literature. All thanks to their mother who playing god, chose a father for each child that would excel in the art world. Joanie played the piano and was the eldest. Then there was Meg who was an artist and Avery who was a writer. Their mother Minerva which her name comes from Roman mythology who is the goddess of wisdom and patroness of the arts, drove her daughters to perfection.
The day came on national TV on the Today Show that comparison, competition and perfection, the toxic trio was to much for Joanie that she purposely made her mother look bad and with her mother's reaction, their lives changed. Their story begins with the aftermath years later with Meg married with a young daughter, Joanie single with son ready to graduate high school and Avery trying to find her nitch. All three life with the pain of a identity crisis and how to move forward. When one of the sisters suffers a tragic accident, they must face their past and the secrets that can free them.
I try not to give to much away, but there is so much to these women that is engaging and delightful. Probably one of my favorites for 2017.
A Special Thank You to Kensington and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Sometimes you get in your hand a book that you don't want to end. You love the characters, the plot and you know that there is more...so much more. I don't get that often in a book. I may like it, enjoy it but many times I am ready to move on to the next best thing but this one touched me.
It all stems from the Promise sisters. All three sisters are gifted in their fields of music, art, and literature. All thanks to their mother who playing god, chose a father for each child that would excel in the art world. Joanie played the piano and was the eldest. Then there was Meg who was an artist and Avery who was a writer. Their mother Minerva which her name comes from Roman mythology who is the goddess of wisdom and patroness of the arts, drove her daughters to perfection.
The day came on national TV on the Today Show that comparison, competition and perfection, the toxic trio was to much for Joanie that she purposely made her mother look bad and with her mother's reaction, their lives changed. Their story begins with the aftermath years later with Meg married with a young daughter, Joanie single with son ready to graduate high school and Avery trying to find her nitch. All three life with the pain of a identity crisis and how to move forward. When one of the sisters suffers a tragic accident, they must face their past and the secrets that can free them.
I try not to give to much away, but there is so much to these women that is engaging and delightful. Probably one of my favorites for 2017.
A Special Thank You to Kensington and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
March 25, 2017
This book had a lot of heart and a lot of spunk and really drew me in.
I envisioned this to be a simple but unspectacular read and was surprised by how deeply I felt towards the characters and the extent to which they enveloped me.
The plot contained a little bit of a mystery, some strings that hadn't previously been pulled together that eventually came out in a very satisfying way. This increased my intrigue while reading and really kept my interest peaked.
Meg suffers from memory loss in her car accident. Usually this medical condition is extremely gimmicky, but Bostwick did a fabulous job of making this poignant and relevant. I loved seeing the way that she was able to revaluate her life and develop new relationships with her daughter and her husband.
The documentary that Hal creates adds another lens to the book that really works. Again, this could have been gimmicky, but the layer this contributed was immensely satisfying and I loved viewing the way that he created things.
The family dynamics of the book were gorgeous. All the characters were very different, normal but extremely quirky. They were rational and made decisions that for them made sense and I felt like by the end these people were friends I would have in real life--kind of all over the place, but spirited and alive. From the two teenagers and their teenage angst to motherly Joanie and sporadic Avery, I really fell in love with them all.
This book was absolutely adorable and I recommend it highly. Definitely going to look for more of Bostwick's books.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I envisioned this to be a simple but unspectacular read and was surprised by how deeply I felt towards the characters and the extent to which they enveloped me.
The plot contained a little bit of a mystery, some strings that hadn't previously been pulled together that eventually came out in a very satisfying way. This increased my intrigue while reading and really kept my interest peaked.
Meg suffers from memory loss in her car accident. Usually this medical condition is extremely gimmicky, but Bostwick did a fabulous job of making this poignant and relevant. I loved seeing the way that she was able to revaluate her life and develop new relationships with her daughter and her husband.
The documentary that Hal creates adds another lens to the book that really works. Again, this could have been gimmicky, but the layer this contributed was immensely satisfying and I loved viewing the way that he created things.
The family dynamics of the book were gorgeous. All the characters were very different, normal but extremely quirky. They were rational and made decisions that for them made sense and I felt like by the end these people were friends I would have in real life--kind of all over the place, but spirited and alive. From the two teenagers and their teenage angst to motherly Joanie and sporadic Avery, I really fell in love with them all.
This book was absolutely adorable and I recommend it highly. Definitely going to look for more of Bostwick's books.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2017
ARC generously provided by the publishers and Netgalley for an honest review
I really enjoyed this book! Sure it was unnecessarily "mysterious" and some of the plot points could be spotted a mile away, but there's no denying the Marie Bostwick is a good storyteller... just like my favorite character in this book happens to be!
The Promise girls are three sisters. Joanie is your stereotypical bossy and mothering oldest sister, Meg is the unfortunate middle child who gets her head cracked open, and Avery (my favorite) is the young, fanciful and flighty youngest child and part-time mermaid. Each daughter was "designed" by their mother (Minerva Promise... obviously fake but totally awesome) to have a love for a certain branch of the arts, and they were supposed to lead fabulous lives pursuing said arts. Joanie the pianist, Meg the painter, and Avery the writer.
Needless to say, they did not fulfill their mother's wish, thanks to an act of rebellion by Joanie and her mother's batshit crazy reaction...
The story picks up after 20 years, and kind of follows the ordinary and mundane lives of these former child prodigies. Meg has a car crash right after finding out something "mysterious" that makes her really mad, so of course she loses all her memories... Cheap shot but it's okay, it works (slightly). To cover the hospital bills they agree to do a documentary chronicling the lives of failed genius. Honestly, it's not very exciting, but it is compelling and very good writing, and there's always that "mystery" keeping you reading wanting to know what it was... even though you could probably guess...
The only complaint I have about the book is that the delivery kind of fell flat over the "big reveal". I felt like the reactions were not plausible and the way the stories were told were more like journal entries than people telling their family something important. I try and always put myself in a scene and if I had been there, I would most decidedly not have acted like they did. After that it kind of just went downhill... like she stopped making an effort and just wanted to finish the story... which is ok in some cases, but in this case I feel like there was just too much that wasn't wrapped up as well as it could have been.
I'll leave you with a few reasons why I wish Avery was my best friend:
"To Avery, buying books was one of life's most pleasurable and affordable luxuries, on you could keep forever and enjoy over and over again."
"In feeding her imagination, she had smothered the bitterness, despair, and hopelessness that often mark those who know life's cruelty acutely and at too young an age. Imagination had saved her."
I really enjoyed this book! Sure it was unnecessarily "mysterious" and some of the plot points could be spotted a mile away, but there's no denying the Marie Bostwick is a good storyteller... just like my favorite character in this book happens to be!
The Promise girls are three sisters. Joanie is your stereotypical bossy and mothering oldest sister, Meg is the unfortunate middle child who gets her head cracked open, and Avery (my favorite) is the young, fanciful and flighty youngest child and part-time mermaid. Each daughter was "designed" by their mother (Minerva Promise... obviously fake but totally awesome) to have a love for a certain branch of the arts, and they were supposed to lead fabulous lives pursuing said arts. Joanie the pianist, Meg the painter, and Avery the writer.
Needless to say, they did not fulfill their mother's wish, thanks to an act of rebellion by Joanie and her mother's batshit crazy reaction...
The story picks up after 20 years, and kind of follows the ordinary and mundane lives of these former child prodigies. Meg has a car crash right after finding out something "mysterious" that makes her really mad, so of course she loses all her memories... Cheap shot but it's okay, it works (slightly). To cover the hospital bills they agree to do a documentary chronicling the lives of failed genius. Honestly, it's not very exciting, but it is compelling and very good writing, and there's always that "mystery" keeping you reading wanting to know what it was... even though you could probably guess...
The only complaint I have about the book is that the delivery kind of fell flat over the "big reveal". I felt like the reactions were not plausible and the way the stories were told were more like journal entries than people telling their family something important. I try and always put myself in a scene and if I had been there, I would most decidedly not have acted like they did. After that it kind of just went downhill... like she stopped making an effort and just wanted to finish the story... which is ok in some cases, but in this case I feel like there was just too much that wasn't wrapped up as well as it could have been.
I'll leave you with a few reasons why I wish Avery was my best friend:
"To Avery, buying books was one of life's most pleasurable and affordable luxuries, on you could keep forever and enjoy over and over again."
"In feeding her imagination, she had smothered the bitterness, despair, and hopelessness that often mark those who know life's cruelty acutely and at too young an age. Imagination had saved her."
March 14, 2017
http://www.anurseandabook.com/2017/03...
So coming off The Roanoke Girls, I was ready for a lighter sister read. The Promise Sisters wasn't an easy, breezy read, but it wasn't completely dark.
Minerva Promise was raising three test tube babies into being prodigies of the arts, and making her living writing a book about it. On the day that they have their debut on a major talk show, Joanie decides to make a break for freedom and flub her music performance, earning her a face slap on national TV.
Chaos ensued and the girls are split up and put into foster care. As they age out of the foster system, they find their way back together, with Minerva a bad memory for the older girls.
The youngest Promise girl, Avery is the one with the most contact with Minerva, via infrequent phone calls. But Avery is also the most mixed up. She lives in a tiny house in her sister's backyard, she is half unemployed, but lives in a separate persona as a mermaid, and chooses a series of wrong men.
After Meg loses her memory in a car accident, the girls rally around to help her recover. But with her hospital bills comes a deal with the devil (I'm still wondering why her car insurance didn't cover her bills), Joanie has to agree to have a documentary made about them and the fateful talk show appearance, something she has been flatly refusing for a long time.
Hal comes to town to film the documentary, has been half in love with Joanie since he met her on the set of the talk show. As they work through their individual parts of the documentary, they work through some difficult parts of their lives, and find new paths for themselves.
Minerva reappears to film a scene for the documentary and meet her grandchildren for the first time. This is quite an eventful dinner as paternity is revealed multiple times - yep, you read that right. One revelation usually makes a dinner party, two puts it on the map forever.
I enjoyed the book but I felt that the ending wrapped up a little too tidily. I'm not sure that the feelings these girls had for their mother could be resolved so quickly, and even with her explanation, she still didn't do the right thing EVER by her kids.
So coming off The Roanoke Girls, I was ready for a lighter sister read. The Promise Sisters wasn't an easy, breezy read, but it wasn't completely dark.
Minerva Promise was raising three test tube babies into being prodigies of the arts, and making her living writing a book about it. On the day that they have their debut on a major talk show, Joanie decides to make a break for freedom and flub her music performance, earning her a face slap on national TV.
Chaos ensued and the girls are split up and put into foster care. As they age out of the foster system, they find their way back together, with Minerva a bad memory for the older girls.
The youngest Promise girl, Avery is the one with the most contact with Minerva, via infrequent phone calls. But Avery is also the most mixed up. She lives in a tiny house in her sister's backyard, she is half unemployed, but lives in a separate persona as a mermaid, and chooses a series of wrong men.
After Meg loses her memory in a car accident, the girls rally around to help her recover. But with her hospital bills comes a deal with the devil (I'm still wondering why her car insurance didn't cover her bills), Joanie has to agree to have a documentary made about them and the fateful talk show appearance, something she has been flatly refusing for a long time.
Hal comes to town to film the documentary, has been half in love with Joanie since he met her on the set of the talk show. As they work through their individual parts of the documentary, they work through some difficult parts of their lives, and find new paths for themselves.
Minerva reappears to film a scene for the documentary and meet her grandchildren for the first time. This is quite an eventful dinner as paternity is revealed multiple times - yep, you read that right. One revelation usually makes a dinner party, two puts it on the map forever.
I enjoyed the book but I felt that the ending wrapped up a little too tidily. I'm not sure that the feelings these girls had for their mother could be resolved so quickly, and even with her explanation, she still didn't do the right thing EVER by her kids.
April 1, 2017
Joanie and her little sisters Meg and Avery were paraded across the United States in the 80s as children who were supposedly prodigies.
Their mother, Minerva Promise, had designer engineered them in the UK as test-tube babies before the technology was even available in the United States. A few years later, Minerva then wrote and released a book called THE PROMISE GIRLS, which trumpeted the fact that she was the mother of three artistic prodigies. Minerva's book argued that nature and nurture both play equally important roles in fostering genius.
Minerva was a single mother who carefully chose the sperm donors for her children based on what she wanted. And she wanted prodigies - one in art, one in music and one in writing.
Now, twenty years later the Promise Girls have no contact with their mother and do NOT want any. But Minerva has her sights set on the girls participating in a documentary and plans to ride on the girl's coat-tails once again.
This book is character driven. Marie Bostwick has a gift for creating characters who are so believable and so realistic that as you read the book, you find yourself forgetting that they are not real. In fact, it is impossible not to begin to care for the Promise girls and to hope for them to find happiness and success.
It is not just the characters themselves that will draw readers in. The story is excellent and utterly believable. The events in this book could easily have happened to any family.
So, the characters are amazing, the story believable and compelling - that is all you need, right? Wrong! Added to all the great things I have already mentioned, I need to add that there is much more to this book. Family dynamics, a mystery to wonder about, a past to discover, romance, tragedy, and emotionally charged scenes all combine to create an extraordinary book that I believe will become a Bestseller.
I rate this book as 5 out of 5 Stars.
Their mother, Minerva Promise, had designer engineered them in the UK as test-tube babies before the technology was even available in the United States. A few years later, Minerva then wrote and released a book called THE PROMISE GIRLS, which trumpeted the fact that she was the mother of three artistic prodigies. Minerva's book argued that nature and nurture both play equally important roles in fostering genius.
Minerva was a single mother who carefully chose the sperm donors for her children based on what she wanted. And she wanted prodigies - one in art, one in music and one in writing.
Now, twenty years later the Promise Girls have no contact with their mother and do NOT want any. But Minerva has her sights set on the girls participating in a documentary and plans to ride on the girl's coat-tails once again.
This book is character driven. Marie Bostwick has a gift for creating characters who are so believable and so realistic that as you read the book, you find yourself forgetting that they are not real. In fact, it is impossible not to begin to care for the Promise girls and to hope for them to find happiness and success.
It is not just the characters themselves that will draw readers in. The story is excellent and utterly believable. The events in this book could easily have happened to any family.
So, the characters are amazing, the story believable and compelling - that is all you need, right? Wrong! Added to all the great things I have already mentioned, I need to add that there is much more to this book. Family dynamics, a mystery to wonder about, a past to discover, romance, tragedy, and emotionally charged scenes all combine to create an extraordinary book that I believe will become a Bestseller.
I rate this book as 5 out of 5 Stars.
April 13, 2017
I love Marie Bostwick's books. I have read every single one of them and love being able to read her books from the beginning. It's like traveling through life with one of your favorite authors and seeing how much she has grown. I am really glad that she has branched out into writing about different women, not just about women who quilt. (I love her Cobblestone series, mind you.)
I absolutely love the Second Sister, which is the book before this one. Out of all of her novels, that one is my favorite. It is with great expectations that I picked up this one, as I always do, but it's not one of my favorites. I don't know why. The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging. It is a well-written novel, but just is not the same as her other books. I think it is a personal preference on my part. I love it when the story focuses on just one character, not three. However, Bostwick's style of writing is impeccable. She tells the stories and keeps you engaged until the last page has been turned. It is true of this book. I would give this a 4.5 stars, if Amazon would give half points for ratings.
This novel is about three sisters, whose mother claimed she conceived them to be geniuses in different fields. Her oldest, Joanie is a gifted pianist, Meg is the artist and Avery is the story-teller. Minerva also claimed that her daughters were test-tube babies, and their fathers were all gifted men. They grew up eventually especially after a disastrous talk show where Minerva lost custody of her daughters.
Fast-forward to present day, the three sisters are living in Seattle. There was a tragic accident and the sisters had to regroup to rediscover their goals, their lives and where they wanted to go from that point on. It is a lovely story of redemption, forgiveness and love. It is a lovely book, as Bostwick is a lovely writer. She brings beauty to her stories. She always has. Her fans will love this book and people new to her writing will enjoy this book as well.
I absolutely love the Second Sister, which is the book before this one. Out of all of her novels, that one is my favorite. It is with great expectations that I picked up this one, as I always do, but it's not one of my favorites. I don't know why. The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging. It is a well-written novel, but just is not the same as her other books. I think it is a personal preference on my part. I love it when the story focuses on just one character, not three. However, Bostwick's style of writing is impeccable. She tells the stories and keeps you engaged until the last page has been turned. It is true of this book. I would give this a 4.5 stars, if Amazon would give half points for ratings.
This novel is about three sisters, whose mother claimed she conceived them to be geniuses in different fields. Her oldest, Joanie is a gifted pianist, Meg is the artist and Avery is the story-teller. Minerva also claimed that her daughters were test-tube babies, and their fathers were all gifted men. They grew up eventually especially after a disastrous talk show where Minerva lost custody of her daughters.
Fast-forward to present day, the three sisters are living in Seattle. There was a tragic accident and the sisters had to regroup to rediscover their goals, their lives and where they wanted to go from that point on. It is a lovely story of redemption, forgiveness and love. It is a lovely book, as Bostwick is a lovely writer. She brings beauty to her stories. She always has. Her fans will love this book and people new to her writing will enjoy this book as well.
May 28, 2017
Good read about 3 sisters whose mother tried manipulate their futures from the time they were born; one a pianist, one a writer and one an artist. The ins and outs of how her plans did and didn't work the way she planned and the effects it had on their family relationships.
February 27, 2017
I absolutely loved this amazing book ever! It is a beautiful cover and beautifully written. Marie Bostwick, you nailed it in this best book ever!!!
The Promise Girls is all about how lives turned out to be..
Joanie is a single mother to her son Walt who turned 17 years old, handsome and a mountain man. She wanted to keep a secret for a long time when she and Asher are friends but became pregnant with son Walt. She was a painst player.
Meg is with her husband Asher and her teen Daughter Trina. Meg got into a bad car accident while she was on the phone with her mother Minerva. She can't remember what happened in her pasts of her life but very slowly coming back to her. She found out what happened between Joanie and Asher whose son Walt just before her accident before she knew it the whole time. She knew that Walt looks like alots his father Asher. She was a painter after her accident and did all her work done.
Avery is having a hard time to find a jobs but she ended up at the bookstore which she loved the most. She has two relationships but Owen wasn't good for her so Adam likes her alots. She was a mermaid character of the storyteller and a performer.
At last but not least,
Minerva is a liar but it was her mother that did that to her when she was a child. Her real name is Melanie Weldon and she was only 58 but not 63 years old. She using her stage name because of her late husband. She made a confessions to her three daughters & family at the dining room bout how she doing it all this time. She pushed too hard on her daughters about their artists & writer in their dreams.
The Promise Girls is all about how lives turned out to be..
Joanie is a single mother to her son Walt who turned 17 years old, handsome and a mountain man. She wanted to keep a secret for a long time when she and Asher are friends but became pregnant with son Walt. She was a painst player.
Meg is with her husband Asher and her teen Daughter Trina. Meg got into a bad car accident while she was on the phone with her mother Minerva. She can't remember what happened in her pasts of her life but very slowly coming back to her. She found out what happened between Joanie and Asher whose son Walt just before her accident before she knew it the whole time. She knew that Walt looks like alots his father Asher. She was a painter after her accident and did all her work done.
Avery is having a hard time to find a jobs but she ended up at the bookstore which she loved the most. She has two relationships but Owen wasn't good for her so Adam likes her alots. She was a mermaid character of the storyteller and a performer.
At last but not least,
Minerva is a liar but it was her mother that did that to her when she was a child. Her real name is Melanie Weldon and she was only 58 but not 63 years old. She using her stage name because of her late husband. She made a confessions to her three daughters & family at the dining room bout how she doing it all this time. She pushed too hard on her daughters about their artists & writer in their dreams.
March 28, 2017
I let the sink overflow, I burnt dinner and I stayed up way too late several nights in a row while reading The Promise Girls by Marie Bostwick – and it was all worth it.
This rich tale by the New York Times bestselling author has many twists and turns – most of them unexpected – to keep the reader captivated.
It is also written with such warmth and colour that it almost feels like you’re part of it.
I’m fascinated by the question of ‘what next?’ for child prodigies. It certainly can’t be an easy road, especially if your mother is anything like Minerva Promise.
What we learn as the book goes on is that she is perhaps not quite the villain we think she is and I really enjoyed unpicking her past.
In fact, I really liked all of the characters, especially the sisters who are all strong-willed, creative and funny and have a lovely bond, despite of – or maybe because of – their dysfunctional childhood.
When it comes to their individual talents, I especially enjoyed seeing all of them find their joy – if not for the first time then for the first time in a long while.
There are some truly shocking revelations and near the end of the book it almost seems like a competition – I think Minerva wins, just.
It certainly makes for a book very hard to put down (maybe set an alarm if you’re cooking dinner at the same time).
Thanks for the ARC in return for an honest read.
This rich tale by the New York Times bestselling author has many twists and turns – most of them unexpected – to keep the reader captivated.
It is also written with such warmth and colour that it almost feels like you’re part of it.
I’m fascinated by the question of ‘what next?’ for child prodigies. It certainly can’t be an easy road, especially if your mother is anything like Minerva Promise.
What we learn as the book goes on is that she is perhaps not quite the villain we think she is and I really enjoyed unpicking her past.
In fact, I really liked all of the characters, especially the sisters who are all strong-willed, creative and funny and have a lovely bond, despite of – or maybe because of – their dysfunctional childhood.
When it comes to their individual talents, I especially enjoyed seeing all of them find their joy – if not for the first time then for the first time in a long while.
There are some truly shocking revelations and near the end of the book it almost seems like a competition – I think Minerva wins, just.
It certainly makes for a book very hard to put down (maybe set an alarm if you’re cooking dinner at the same time).
Thanks for the ARC in return for an honest read.
March 22, 2017
Joanie, Meg and Avery were genetically engineered to be prodigies, each in a different area -- music, art and writing -- while their mother thrived on the attention paid to her because of a book about the girls. Joanie, the oldest, defies Minerva during a nationally broadcast talk show, and their lives change forever. Fast forward twenty years, where the girls have no contact with their mother, little contact with each other, and are being hounded by a producer who wants to make a documentary about where they are now and what they're doing at this point in their lives. They all adamantly refuse -- until a car accident results in medical bills that make them reconsider. As they all come together, stories are told and secrets revealed.
While I usually love books by this author, this one didn't quite live up to my expectations. Maybe it was the wrong book for me at this point in time, but I had a really hard time getting into the story. The writing, as always, was excellent, but the characters seemed almost flat to me. Maybe knowing more about the girls individually, rather than as a group, would have helped? That said, I won't let this keep me from looking for future books by Ms. Bostwick.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
While I usually love books by this author, this one didn't quite live up to my expectations. Maybe it was the wrong book for me at this point in time, but I had a really hard time getting into the story. The writing, as always, was excellent, but the characters seemed almost flat to me. Maybe knowing more about the girls individually, rather than as a group, would have helped? That said, I won't let this keep me from looking for future books by Ms. Bostwick.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
February 28, 2017
Thank you to NetGallery.com and the publisher for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
As a stand alone book, The Promise Girls is just okay. If it will develop into a series where we have the opportunity to get to know these ladies on a deeper level – there is a strong potential for it to develop over time and become a heart warming series, but I don’t think that is going to happen. The story is too neatly wrapped up in the climax which is a disappointment as I think these ladies have potential to be as wonderful as Ms. Bostwick’s other characters.
What I loved: Hal is a great character. Usually the men aren’t supposed to be the endearing characters in the women’s fiction but his passion and drive were infectious. He’s almost too good to be true.
What I didn’t love: Of course, Minvera is set to be the main villainess from the premise, but each sister has so much buried hurt, pain and trauma from their life that affects all of their relationships in life that it almost painful to read. They all think they’ve dealt with the past but outside of Meg, they really haven’t.
What I learned: More about geometrical math functions that I ever needed to.
Overall Grade: B-
May 6, 2017
Joanie, Meg, and Avery Promise were raised as child prodigies in music, art, and writing from their birth by their mother Minerva. Their childhoods are a blur of lessons, performances, and constant reminders to do better. When Minerva published a book claiming that the girls were conceived as test tube babies using the anonymous sperm of high achievers, the publicity rounds destroy their hectic lives. The collapse of their lives find the three sisters, now adults, totally denying their gifts and established in other lives. A documentary film maker threatens their settled lives and as he attempts to make his film, the three women discover not only a family secret, but also their adult identities. I really liked the characters and the story. Although the plot was predictable and the resolution was a too neat, I enjoyed the book a lot.
March 15, 2017
Absolutely loved this book. Marie just has a way of telling a story that you can fall into. The story is about 3 sisters, they are born to a mother who is controlling their future lives before they were born. A pianist, and artist and a writer, that is what she has tried to create from her IVF babies.
But it all crashes down when the oldest Joanie, strikes out in defiance whilst performing on a live talk show.
Move from their childhood to their adulthood and they are finding their way, without their mother's influence, creating their families and futures. Until an accident put one in danger, and the whole family is turned upside down.
Really a terrific storyline. Wish it could have continued, but maybe Marie has another Promise story to to come. Definitely worth five stars..
But it all crashes down when the oldest Joanie, strikes out in defiance whilst performing on a live talk show.
Move from their childhood to their adulthood and they are finding their way, without their mother's influence, creating their families and futures. Until an accident put one in danger, and the whole family is turned upside down.
Really a terrific storyline. Wish it could have continued, but maybe Marie has another Promise story to to come. Definitely worth five stars..
March 1, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an e-ARC of this title, in advance for an honest review. This was a wonderful book, and timely for today, with reality parents thinking they can make a buck off their children. The Promise Girls were born to be geniuses, with their mom telling the world she used in vitro to craft their talents. The girls all have different feelings about this, and now adults, they have their own struggles. The characters were well developed, and likeable, but with flaws...I loved this book. It's more than I thought it would be, which was a fun read. It turned out to be emotional and rang true.
March 29, 2017
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and the publisher for an honest review.
I have been a long time reader of Marie Bostwick's books and I was excited to read her newest addition. This book did not disappoint. I read a lot of women's fiction and after awhile some of the stories can get stale or repetitive. That is definitely not the case with this book!
The characters were very well written and likeable. I found the Promise sisters' story interesting and unique and I loved that there was a bit of a mystery to their life story. The truths that were unveiled had me flipping the pages rapidly to find out the answers. Highly recommend!
I have been a long time reader of Marie Bostwick's books and I was excited to read her newest addition. This book did not disappoint. I read a lot of women's fiction and after awhile some of the stories can get stale or repetitive. That is definitely not the case with this book!
The characters were very well written and likeable. I found the Promise sisters' story interesting and unique and I loved that there was a bit of a mystery to their life story. The truths that were unveiled had me flipping the pages rapidly to find out the answers. Highly recommend!
March 19, 2017
Three sisters, subject of a book pushing genius children in the arts are now adults with lots of problems. This is a wonderful story of family. The ladies live in the Pacific Northwest and are close friends, all estranged from their mother. When a film maker wants to do a documentary on where are they now they reluctantly agree because of high medical bills. This is a beautiful story with several twist and turns that will surprise you. Not your typical family saga, it's better.
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