What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sum of our Sorrows
In an idyllic suburb in Northern California, tragedy strikes the Sheppard family when Abby, the mother of three daughters and wife to Dalton, is killed in a car accident. Charlotte, the middle daughter, is in the car with her mother and survives without physical injury but remains deeply scarred on the inside.
Dalton tells Lily, his eldest daughter, that she must sacrifice long-awaited college plans and put her life on hold to take care of her sisters. Lily is torn between her devotion to family and an increasing need to find her place in the world — but how can she leave, knowing her family may crumble?
Will her presence eventually cause more problems than it resolves?
The Sum of our Sorrows reveals how the aftermath of a family tragedy can precipitate sorrows never imagined.
It is a tale of grief, hope, healing, coming-of-age, friendship, and survival. It is also a love story of two broken souls living through pain in search of better days and the renewal of one’s spirit.
Dalton tells Lily, his eldest daughter, that she must sacrifice long-awaited college plans and put her life on hold to take care of her sisters. Lily is torn between her devotion to family and an increasing need to find her place in the world — but how can she leave, knowing her family may crumble?
Will her presence eventually cause more problems than it resolves?
The Sum of our Sorrows reveals how the aftermath of a family tragedy can precipitate sorrows never imagined.
It is a tale of grief, hope, healing, coming-of-age, friendship, and survival. It is also a love story of two broken souls living through pain in search of better days and the renewal of one’s spirit.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2020
10 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Lisette Brodey
18 books255 followersLisette was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. She spent ten years in New York City, and now resides in Los Angeles.
She’s a multigenre author of fourteen books: Crooked Moon (General/Literary Fiction); Squalor, New Mexico (Coming-of-Age/Literary Fiction); Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! (Women's Fiction/RomCom), The Desert Series: Mystical High; Desert Star; and Drawn Apart (YA paranormal), Barrie Hill Reunion (Literary Fiction); Hotel Obscure (themed short stories, Literary Fiction); Love, Look Away (Women's Fiction/RomCom), The Sum of our Sorrows (Contemporary Fiction), The Waiting House: A Novel in Stories (Literary Fiction), All That Was Taken (Contemporary Fiction), Twice a Broken Breath (suspense), and What the Years Remember.
In addition to her fourteen books, two of Lisette’s short stories are published in an anthology: Triptychs (Book 3, The Mind’s Eye Series.)
She’s a multigenre author of fourteen books: Crooked Moon (General/Literary Fiction); Squalor, New Mexico (Coming-of-Age/Literary Fiction); Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! (Women's Fiction/RomCom), The Desert Series: Mystical High; Desert Star; and Drawn Apart (YA paranormal), Barrie Hill Reunion (Literary Fiction); Hotel Obscure (themed short stories, Literary Fiction); Love, Look Away (Women's Fiction/RomCom), The Sum of our Sorrows (Contemporary Fiction), The Waiting House: A Novel in Stories (Literary Fiction), All That Was Taken (Contemporary Fiction), Twice a Broken Breath (suspense), and What the Years Remember.
In addition to her fourteen books, two of Lisette’s short stories are published in an anthology: Triptychs (Book 3, The Mind’s Eye Series.)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 13, 2021
This is a well written family saga, packed with complex but relatable relationships that we may well recognise from our own experiences. Father and daughters, sisters and between lovers.
Friendships that fizzle out as circumstances change, or grow through surprising connections.
The author sets the scene early in the story as we learn of a family tragedy that changes the dynamic of the relationship between father and daughter and the three sisters. The spread of ages of the girls, places them all in a different stage in their lives and each is vulnerable in their own way.
As the novel progresses we are introduced to other characters who impose their own agendas on the sisters and their father, sometimes with traumatic effect. Others bring clarity and hope to the family as a whole and individually There are moments of drama and also evil, as the family try to come to terms with a mother’s death and three young women face uncertain futures.
The author does an excellent job of getting to the heart of her characters and portrays them well. The reader is left feeling that they are part of the family and involved in a very personal way as they face demons, secrets that are revealed and the future. I can recommend the book to lovers of family drama with elements of thriller, mystery and romance.
Friendships that fizzle out as circumstances change, or grow through surprising connections.
The author sets the scene early in the story as we learn of a family tragedy that changes the dynamic of the relationship between father and daughter and the three sisters. The spread of ages of the girls, places them all in a different stage in their lives and each is vulnerable in their own way.
As the novel progresses we are introduced to other characters who impose their own agendas on the sisters and their father, sometimes with traumatic effect. Others bring clarity and hope to the family as a whole and individually There are moments of drama and also evil, as the family try to come to terms with a mother’s death and three young women face uncertain futures.
The author does an excellent job of getting to the heart of her characters and portrays them well. The reader is left feeling that they are part of the family and involved in a very personal way as they face demons, secrets that are revealed and the future. I can recommend the book to lovers of family drama with elements of thriller, mystery and romance.
March 10, 2021
This captivating story follows the life of a young girl and her family trying to come to terms with the sudden loss of their mother.
From the beginning, I quickly found myself completely submerged into this beautifully written book as Lilly watches and contemplates the short life span of a single raindrop. Its significance highlighting how her mother had been taken from her 'in less time than a raindrop lives.'
There is a strong sense of family and the connection between the sisters, especially Willow and Lily is wonderful. You get a sense that it is Willow who gives Lily the strength she needs to keep going. Lily is unwilling to let her sister down, despite her own pain she needs to be there for Willow.
It would be easy to hate the middle sister, Charlotte, she comes across in the beginning as hurtful and full of spite. It is only as we read that we discover that for Charlotte it is building barriers to keep the nightmares from seeping into her waking life and forming her own protection.
What I found incredible and thought-provoking is how Lily's life is turned upside down. She's was a young woman readying herself for fashion college, until her father takes it away from her. Dalton comes across as selfish. Absorbed within his own pain and guilt he strips Lily of her youth, forcing her to take over her mother's position in the house and see to her sisters and chores.
The friends Lily thought would be there for her fall away leaving her isolated and with only her good friend Ray, (soon to go off to college) and her mother's best friend Kady.
There are such raw emotions in this book that you can not help but become part of the story and feel their pain and their sorrows. But this is a book of many parts and there is so much to be discovered that you are forced to keep reading because you want to know how it is all going to end.
The Sum of our Sorrows is beautifully and artfully written and my compliments go out to this skilful author who isn't afraid to make us feel and empathise with the characters. Perhaps some of us will recognise ourselves or friends or family members in this book.
This is not just a book but an incredible story given life. And centred within it all is the importance of family. Five stars are not enough for this captivating and beautifully written book
From the beginning, I quickly found myself completely submerged into this beautifully written book as Lilly watches and contemplates the short life span of a single raindrop. Its significance highlighting how her mother had been taken from her 'in less time than a raindrop lives.'
There is a strong sense of family and the connection between the sisters, especially Willow and Lily is wonderful. You get a sense that it is Willow who gives Lily the strength she needs to keep going. Lily is unwilling to let her sister down, despite her own pain she needs to be there for Willow.
It would be easy to hate the middle sister, Charlotte, she comes across in the beginning as hurtful and full of spite. It is only as we read that we discover that for Charlotte it is building barriers to keep the nightmares from seeping into her waking life and forming her own protection.
What I found incredible and thought-provoking is how Lily's life is turned upside down. She's was a young woman readying herself for fashion college, until her father takes it away from her. Dalton comes across as selfish. Absorbed within his own pain and guilt he strips Lily of her youth, forcing her to take over her mother's position in the house and see to her sisters and chores.
The friends Lily thought would be there for her fall away leaving her isolated and with only her good friend Ray, (soon to go off to college) and her mother's best friend Kady.
There are such raw emotions in this book that you can not help but become part of the story and feel their pain and their sorrows. But this is a book of many parts and there is so much to be discovered that you are forced to keep reading because you want to know how it is all going to end.
The Sum of our Sorrows is beautifully and artfully written and my compliments go out to this skilful author who isn't afraid to make us feel and empathise with the characters. Perhaps some of us will recognise ourselves or friends or family members in this book.
This is not just a book but an incredible story given life. And centred within it all is the importance of family. Five stars are not enough for this captivating and beautifully written book
January 27, 2021
The Sum of Our Sorrows is first and foremost a story of the worst kind of loss – that of a mother, leaving behind with her young daughters. It weaves into the tragedy the kindness of a dear friend, the slow healing of the mind (with and without professional help), the behavioral changes in both children and husband such a loss can create, and redemption. A lot to pack into a book!
Abby, the mother of three daughters and wife to Dalton, is tragically killed in a car accident in northern California. Charlotte, the middle daughter, is in the car and survives but is emotionally and mentally altered by the experience. I was completely drawn to the oldest daughter, Lily, who while suffering the same loss, is told by her father that she must give up her job and her plans for college to stay home and take care of her sisters and him. She acquiesces without quite understanding why her father would ask that of her, and it is clear that none of his daughters truly know him, except from a distance. Lily desperately wants a life of her own and is torn between knowing she has to care for her family and wanting to leave. She realizes that if she leaves her two younger sisters they may not recover from the loss. When her father makes more and more demands of her, treating her as his wife in all but the physical sense and demanding she no longer interact with her friends, her desperation only grows.
Lily’s voice is obviously very strong, as was Charlotte’s, the middle child. I truly felt Lily’s confusion, guilt and sorrow and Charlotte’s continuous rebellion against her family as an outlet for her grief. Her troubles only pile up as time goes on, and Lily is patient when she can’t reach her. Maybe too patient, but Lily is not one to make demands or voice her own opinion except to her closest friends. Willow, the youngest child at twelve, was not as clearly defined. She seemed preternaturally old for her age, and sometimes her voice was so akin to Lily’s that I felt Lily was talking to herself. I would have liked to see her with some normal preteen problems.
Dalton, the father, was so ignorantly overbearing and dismissive of Lily’s needs that I wanted to give him a good shake, so in that sense, the author did a good job creating his character. His dismissal of Kady – Abby’s best friend and now Lily’s confidant – from their lives hinted early on that there was much more to this family than initially apparent. Just when Lily’s life has reached its lowest point, something wonderful happens, but that something only makes things even more difficult for Lily. You have to read the book to find out.
I will say the ending is a little too tidy for me. Life is messy and its struggles are rarely resolved by being tied up in a bow. So I wish the end was not so perfect, although it should please many readers.
This was a good book, one that kept my attention long enough to be riveted by the twists arising from the backstory of Abby’s life and the surprises in Lily’s. For readers who like family dramas with some right turns and a little romance, this will be a pleaser.
Abby, the mother of three daughters and wife to Dalton, is tragically killed in a car accident in northern California. Charlotte, the middle daughter, is in the car and survives but is emotionally and mentally altered by the experience. I was completely drawn to the oldest daughter, Lily, who while suffering the same loss, is told by her father that she must give up her job and her plans for college to stay home and take care of her sisters and him. She acquiesces without quite understanding why her father would ask that of her, and it is clear that none of his daughters truly know him, except from a distance. Lily desperately wants a life of her own and is torn between knowing she has to care for her family and wanting to leave. She realizes that if she leaves her two younger sisters they may not recover from the loss. When her father makes more and more demands of her, treating her as his wife in all but the physical sense and demanding she no longer interact with her friends, her desperation only grows.
Lily’s voice is obviously very strong, as was Charlotte’s, the middle child. I truly felt Lily’s confusion, guilt and sorrow and Charlotte’s continuous rebellion against her family as an outlet for her grief. Her troubles only pile up as time goes on, and Lily is patient when she can’t reach her. Maybe too patient, but Lily is not one to make demands or voice her own opinion except to her closest friends. Willow, the youngest child at twelve, was not as clearly defined. She seemed preternaturally old for her age, and sometimes her voice was so akin to Lily’s that I felt Lily was talking to herself. I would have liked to see her with some normal preteen problems.
Dalton, the father, was so ignorantly overbearing and dismissive of Lily’s needs that I wanted to give him a good shake, so in that sense, the author did a good job creating his character. His dismissal of Kady – Abby’s best friend and now Lily’s confidant – from their lives hinted early on that there was much more to this family than initially apparent. Just when Lily’s life has reached its lowest point, something wonderful happens, but that something only makes things even more difficult for Lily. You have to read the book to find out.
I will say the ending is a little too tidy for me. Life is messy and its struggles are rarely resolved by being tied up in a bow. So I wish the end was not so perfect, although it should please many readers.
This was a good book, one that kept my attention long enough to be riveted by the twists arising from the backstory of Abby’s life and the surprises in Lily’s. For readers who like family dramas with some right turns and a little romance, this will be a pleaser.
February 24, 2021
In the blink of an eye, the Sheppard family is torn asunder. Abby, devoted wife and mother, is killed in a car accident. Her daughter, Charlotte, survives the accident without physical harm but what lies beneath the surface? Lily, the eldest daughter, must stay at home and help raise her two sisters. She’s torn between family love and making her own way in the world. What would her mother want her to do? As each member of the family deals with grief, pain, loss, memories, moving on, they must come to grips with life after Abby or their sorrows will drown their souls.
The Sum of Our Sorrows is a heart-wrenching piece of fiction with roots in real life. From the beginning, my soul ached for this family. As someone who has survived the sudden death of a parent, the emotional trauma each character deals with is authentic and realistic. Lisette Brodey is a gifted writer and her ability to connect with readers is impressive. There were times where I was so engrossed in the story, I forgot what I was doing. The plot moves at a good pace, not too rushed, with characters and dialogue I couldn’t stop reading. When I finished reading, I cried. An emotional story, The Sum of Our Sorrows brings into focus the magnitude of the human spirit. For some readers, it will be a life-changing read. For others, it will give renewed hope. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Lisette Brodey. Fans of family dramas and intelligent women’s fiction will love The Sum of Our Sorrows. Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I read this on Kindle Unlimited CA.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
The Sum of Our Sorrows is a heart-wrenching piece of fiction with roots in real life. From the beginning, my soul ached for this family. As someone who has survived the sudden death of a parent, the emotional trauma each character deals with is authentic and realistic. Lisette Brodey is a gifted writer and her ability to connect with readers is impressive. There were times where I was so engrossed in the story, I forgot what I was doing. The plot moves at a good pace, not too rushed, with characters and dialogue I couldn’t stop reading. When I finished reading, I cried. An emotional story, The Sum of Our Sorrows brings into focus the magnitude of the human spirit. For some readers, it will be a life-changing read. For others, it will give renewed hope. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Lisette Brodey. Fans of family dramas and intelligent women’s fiction will love The Sum of Our Sorrows. Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I read this on Kindle Unlimited CA.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
February 24, 2021
In the blink of an eye, the Sheppard family is torn asunder. Abby, devoted wife and mother, is killed in a car accident. Her daughter, Charlotte, survives the accident without physical harm but what lies beneath the surface? Lily, the eldest daughter, must stay at home and help raise her two sisters. She’s torn between family love and making her own way in the world. What would her mother want her to do? As each member of the family deals with grief, pain, loss, memories, moving on, they must come to grips with life after Abby or their sorrows will drown their souls.
The Sum of Our Sorrows is a heart-wrenching piece of fiction with roots in real life. From the beginning, my soul ached for this family. As someone who has survived the sudden death of a parent, the emotional trauma each character deals with is authentic and realistic. Lisette Brodey is a gifted writer and her ability to connect with readers is impressive. There were times where I was so engrossed in the story, I forgot what I was doing. The plot moves at a good pace, not too rushed, with characters and dialogue I couldn’t stop reading. When I finished reading, I cried. An emotional story, The Sum of Our Sorrows brings into focus the magnitude of the human spirit. For some readers, it will be a life-changing read. For others, it will give renewed hope. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Lisette Brodey. Fans of family dramas and intelligent women’s fiction will love The Sum of Our Sorrows. Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I read this on Kindle Unlimited CA.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
The Sum of Our Sorrows is a heart-wrenching piece of fiction with roots in real life. From the beginning, my soul ached for this family. As someone who has survived the sudden death of a parent, the emotional trauma each character deals with is authentic and realistic. Lisette Brodey is a gifted writer and her ability to connect with readers is impressive. There were times where I was so engrossed in the story, I forgot what I was doing. The plot moves at a good pace, not too rushed, with characters and dialogue I couldn’t stop reading. When I finished reading, I cried. An emotional story, The Sum of Our Sorrows brings into focus the magnitude of the human spirit. For some readers, it will be a life-changing read. For others, it will give renewed hope. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from Lisette Brodey. Fans of family dramas and intelligent women’s fiction will love The Sum of Our Sorrows. Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I read this on Kindle Unlimited CA.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
Read
November 8, 2020The Sum of Our Sorrows is a moving story about loss and the healing power of love. The reader is immediately drawn into the aftermath of a tragic accident and its devastating effect on the Sheppard family. Though written in the third person, we see the picture through eldest daughter Lily’s eyes, who bears the brunt of the impact when she is thrust into the role of mother and robbed of all her hopes and aspirations.
Having placed the burden of responsibility firmly on his daughter’s shoulders, it is easy to understand Lily’s resentment towards her father as she struggles to come to terms with her grief.
Lisette Brodey does a great job, taking us into the heart and mind of Lily’s conflicting emotions – her growing resentment clouded with guilt as the need to protect and care for her siblings overrides her desire to get away. But how much can a person take?
I empathised with Lily’s dilemma, half of me urging her to leave and the other half hoping for some miracle to make her stay; because not only do we feel for Lily, but for her two very different siblings, each fighting their own demons. To say anything more about the way things unfurl would spoil the plot, which has far more to offer than first meets the eye.
There were several characters I liked and others that I was wary of from the word go. I also enjoyed the descriptions of various places but, above all, the love that prevailed even through the toughest of circumstances.
Another interesting aspect for me was the dialogue. It’s always fascinating to note the different figures of speech used in American dialogue as opposed to British expressions and I found quite a few examples of these.
To tackle the subject of bereavement in a way that doesn’t detract from the pain and suffering yet isn’t depressing, is a challenge. Ms Brodey has pulled this off admirably, striking the right balance and bringing the book to its uplifting conclusion. As with all her works, it is well written with sentiments that many readers will be able to relate to.
I hasten to add that for those of you who enjoy coming-of-age stories with a little romance thrown in, you won’t be disappointed. A worthy 5*
Read
November 16, 2020The Sum of Our Sorrows is a touching and realistic story about coming to terms with grief. I have to admit I practically never read books like this. However, I have enjoyed Lisette Brodey's short stories immensely and I know she is an accomplished writer with a talent for writing dialogue, so I thought I'd give it a try. To my surprise, I became completely hooked on the story and found every opportunity to keep reading it whenever I had a break. Apart from the tragic start that sets the story up on a chain reaction series of emotional crises, there's a good dose of suspense, adventure and nail biting drama to keep the pace fast. That said, despite the tragic series of events, there's nothing miserable about the book and I found it uplifting in many ways. The characters are finely drawn and very well developed; the three sisters, Lily, Char and Willow reminded me of my nieces; and the tensions were completely real and scarily credible. I must say the three girls were my favourites as their interaction was a totally true reflection of how sisters behave, especially the middle sister being the odd one out. As a British born reader, the uniquely American flavour of the book was an added attraction. It was like stepping into a different culture, but I enjoyed the experience. Altogether a compelling and moving story that will definitely appeal to young adults and lovers of romance as well.
November 20, 2020
Another five-star tale from Lisette Brodey. I have to admit, I was pretty certain I would like this one when I first read the title. THE SUM OF OUR SORROWS describes the premise of the book perfectly. When the mom of the family is killed in an accident, grief gets hold of the family and seems it will never let go. Adding to that huge sorrow is the dad’s insistence that Lily, the eldest daughter, must take over the household while putting her own dreams on hold indefinitely. I turned the pages wildly, hoping to discover that Lily would find a way to escape this travesty of injustice, hoping—at the very least—that her father would come to his senses. But of course, life isn’t that easy, and therein lies the story. Be prepared for an emotional roller-coaster of a read, but rest assured, happiness and romance are out there, all is not lost. The ending satisfies. Kudos, Ms. Brodey. Kudos!
September 2, 2024
Good read
The Sum of Our Sorrows by Lissette Brodey is a poignant exploration of grief, sacrifice, and healing. When tragedy strikes the Sheppard family, the emotional fallout is deeply felt, especially by Lily, who must choose between family duty and her own dreams. Brodey masterfully weaves a tale of resilience, love, and the struggle to rebuild shattered lives.
The Sum of Our Sorrows by Lissette Brodey is a poignant exploration of grief, sacrifice, and healing. When tragedy strikes the Sheppard family, the emotional fallout is deeply felt, especially by Lily, who must choose between family duty and her own dreams. Brodey masterfully weaves a tale of resilience, love, and the struggle to rebuild shattered lives.
February 5, 2021
This book is an emotional roller coaster ride. It begins at the funeral of a mother of three, who died in a horrific car crash, while her middle child, Charlotte, watched, and continues relentlessly as her family tries to deal with the emotional and psychological fallout caused by this tragedy.
Lily, the eldest daughter and main character of this book, has her life turned upside down almost immediately by her stern, unlikeable father announcing that she must take over both running the household and raising her two younger sisters, while forgoing her job at the diner with her friends and also her place at design school in LA in the Fall. Try as I might to forgive the widowed father’s stern demeanor and cold manner towards his girls I found him completely unlikeable and the way he disregarded his grieving eldest child’s needs unforgivable.
I enjoyed the adorable sisterly dynamic between the three girls, particularly the close bond between Lily and her youngest sister Willow. The antagonism between the middle child, Charlotte and her replacement caregiver, Lily was frustrating and I kept yelling at my Kindle that the whole family needed grief counseling!!
The youngest daughter, Willow does seem to be written much older than twelve. I have a twelve year old son and most communication consists of grunts and declarations of hunger!!
I also think most nineteen year olds are much more self-centered than poor put-upon, modern day Cinderella, Lily. However mild mannered she might be I think she would have railed against her father’s decisions much more and something would have given sooner than it actually did. Lily is also far too insightful for her years. There is a conversation after a party, where she talks like she has so much life and relationship experience to draw from.
Charlotte’s nightmare helps Lily understand exactly how traumatized Charlotte is:
“Charlotte opened her eyes, her tear-streaked face and look of absolute terror hitting Lily in a way she hadn’t allowed herself to fully grasp before. In that moment, Lily was there in the car during the tragic moment that changed her family’s lives forever. She saw her mother’s light go out in as little time as it took to scream her name."
None of the characters in this book have an easy ride, there is so much pain and suffering, whether caused by events in the story or in the characters’ pasts. Dak, who Lily becomes reacquainted with in Malibu, has some insight into how to keep going when consumed by tragedy:
“And then I thought about the waves … they drew me here too. Look at how they break … but see how they gather their strength and form again … only to keep breaking … over and over again? This is exactly what life makes us do if we want to keep going. We have to learn how to break.”
The second half of the book moves away from the tragic events of the first and we meet a larger than life waitress called Bonnie, short for Bonstance Constance Universe. She is quite a character. Her turn of phrase is unique and hysterical.
The story also develops into a love story at this point and I found myself relieved for Lily that she was finally catching a break!
There are themes in this story which could act as triggers for certain readers. That is all I am prepared to say without “spoiling” anything!
I enjoyed The Sum of Our Sorrows and read it fairly quickly. I did feel that all the loose ends got tied together a bit too nicely in a bow at the end - but I was willing to suspend my disbelief in light of all the separate tragedies these poor people had suffered!
Lily, the eldest daughter and main character of this book, has her life turned upside down almost immediately by her stern, unlikeable father announcing that she must take over both running the household and raising her two younger sisters, while forgoing her job at the diner with her friends and also her place at design school in LA in the Fall. Try as I might to forgive the widowed father’s stern demeanor and cold manner towards his girls I found him completely unlikeable and the way he disregarded his grieving eldest child’s needs unforgivable.
I enjoyed the adorable sisterly dynamic between the three girls, particularly the close bond between Lily and her youngest sister Willow. The antagonism between the middle child, Charlotte and her replacement caregiver, Lily was frustrating and I kept yelling at my Kindle that the whole family needed grief counseling!!
The youngest daughter, Willow does seem to be written much older than twelve. I have a twelve year old son and most communication consists of grunts and declarations of hunger!!
I also think most nineteen year olds are much more self-centered than poor put-upon, modern day Cinderella, Lily. However mild mannered she might be I think she would have railed against her father’s decisions much more and something would have given sooner than it actually did. Lily is also far too insightful for her years. There is a conversation after a party, where she talks like she has so much life and relationship experience to draw from.
Charlotte’s nightmare helps Lily understand exactly how traumatized Charlotte is:
“Charlotte opened her eyes, her tear-streaked face and look of absolute terror hitting Lily in a way she hadn’t allowed herself to fully grasp before. In that moment, Lily was there in the car during the tragic moment that changed her family’s lives forever. She saw her mother’s light go out in as little time as it took to scream her name."
None of the characters in this book have an easy ride, there is so much pain and suffering, whether caused by events in the story or in the characters’ pasts. Dak, who Lily becomes reacquainted with in Malibu, has some insight into how to keep going when consumed by tragedy:
“And then I thought about the waves … they drew me here too. Look at how they break … but see how they gather their strength and form again … only to keep breaking … over and over again? This is exactly what life makes us do if we want to keep going. We have to learn how to break.”
The second half of the book moves away from the tragic events of the first and we meet a larger than life waitress called Bonnie, short for Bonstance Constance Universe. She is quite a character. Her turn of phrase is unique and hysterical.
The story also develops into a love story at this point and I found myself relieved for Lily that she was finally catching a break!
There are themes in this story which could act as triggers for certain readers. That is all I am prepared to say without “spoiling” anything!
I enjoyed The Sum of Our Sorrows and read it fairly quickly. I did feel that all the loose ends got tied together a bit too nicely in a bow at the end - but I was willing to suspend my disbelief in light of all the separate tragedies these poor people had suffered!
August 12, 2021
The Sum of our Sorrows is one of those books that tugs at the heart strings from start to finish. The excellent opening scenes had me hooked and I stayed that way as events unfolded and I leaned more about the characters and their lives. Coping with the tragic loss of their beloved mother is traumatic enough for the three teenage Sheppard sisters to bear, but their loss is made so much worse by the domineering and unyielding attitude of their father, Dalton, and ultimatums made by him regarding their future lives.
The story unfolds through the eyes of Lily, the eldest of the sisters. It is Lily whose anticipated future is crushed by her father’s unreasonable and unfair stipulations regarding how the family will function from now on. Although the two younger sisters, Charlotte and Willow, struggle to come to terms with their loss, it is Lily my heart goes out to. Her longed-for place at college, where she could develop her talent for design, becomes out of reach as she takes on unfair responsibilities within the Sheppard family. Although her father is grief-stricken, too, he seems incapable of even imagining the effects of his authoritarian attitude has on his daughters, especially Lily. In this respect, I struggled to like him.
Ms Brodey does a wonderful job of taking readers along the Sheppard family’s path to eventual healing. There is an excellent cast of characters to be met along the way, some of whom are of great help to the family’s eventual repair and future happiness. There are also a few truly loathsome characters, who serve to create obstacles that must be overcome. Dealing with these difficult and hurtful situations helps to strengthen the broken family, restoring the closeness and love they had shared before their tragic loss tore them apart. Love is also to be found with people outside the family and new relationships are formed. All of these things help to create a rounded and satisfying story.
This is the third book I’ve read by Lisette Brodey and I have found them all to be very well written, and very different in content. She is a very versatile author and I can only say that her characterisation is excellent.
Overall, The Sum Of Our Sorrows is a great book and I look forward to reading others by this author in the near future.
The story unfolds through the eyes of Lily, the eldest of the sisters. It is Lily whose anticipated future is crushed by her father’s unreasonable and unfair stipulations regarding how the family will function from now on. Although the two younger sisters, Charlotte and Willow, struggle to come to terms with their loss, it is Lily my heart goes out to. Her longed-for place at college, where she could develop her talent for design, becomes out of reach as she takes on unfair responsibilities within the Sheppard family. Although her father is grief-stricken, too, he seems incapable of even imagining the effects of his authoritarian attitude has on his daughters, especially Lily. In this respect, I struggled to like him.
Ms Brodey does a wonderful job of taking readers along the Sheppard family’s path to eventual healing. There is an excellent cast of characters to be met along the way, some of whom are of great help to the family’s eventual repair and future happiness. There are also a few truly loathsome characters, who serve to create obstacles that must be overcome. Dealing with these difficult and hurtful situations helps to strengthen the broken family, restoring the closeness and love they had shared before their tragic loss tore them apart. Love is also to be found with people outside the family and new relationships are formed. All of these things help to create a rounded and satisfying story.
This is the third book I’ve read by Lisette Brodey and I have found them all to be very well written, and very different in content. She is a very versatile author and I can only say that her characterisation is excellent.
Overall, The Sum Of Our Sorrows is a great book and I look forward to reading others by this author in the near future.
May 8, 2023
The Sum of our Sorrows is a story of grief and its aftermath. When Abby Sheppard is killed in a car accident her husband and three daughters are bereft. The novel focuses on Lily, the eldest of the three daughters. At seventeen, she is in her final year at school with plans in place to study fashion at college.
Each character in the novel is distinct and each experiences grief and loss in a unique way. Dalton Sheppard has lost his wife, the mainstay of his life, a woman who softened the harsher edges of his personality. The youngest sister, twelve-year-old Willow, seems the most vulnerable. But despite the frictions between other family members, their care for Willow is one thing that binds them together and softens some of their interactions. Char (Charlotte), the middle sister, was in the car when her mother died; her loss is complicated by her guilt at surviving. And Lily has lost not only her mother but her dreams of the future. Dalton, in what he presents as providing stability for the family, demands that Lily withdraw her application to college and take over what were her mother’s domestic responsibilities. This changes the normal teenaged friction between Lily and Char, driving a wedge between them as Char sees Lily’s new role as Lily trying to impersonate their mother.
Dalton’s orders isolate Lily from all those who could provide her support. She has little time to spend with her friends especially as Dalton makes her give up the part-time job she enjoys. Harder even than the loss of her dreams for the future is his edict that Lily is to have no contact with her mother’s best friend, a woman with whom Lily had previously had a good relationship and who could have provided Lily with emotional support and practical help.
The novel traces how Lily and her family deal with their grief and the other trials that life forces on them and the way Lily tries to negotiate her way through the circumscribed life Dalton has forced on her. The questions underlying much of the novel is how much Lily can endure, whether her father will finally recognize the unfairness of the burdens he has placed on her and, if he doesn’t, what the ultimately cost will be to them all if it becomes too much for Lily and she leaves.
The characters in The Sum of our Sorrows are all well rounded and believable, even the obnoxious (to my mind) Dalton. The interactions between the sisters capture that mixture of love and annoyance so common in families. Their dialogue is realistic and skillfully reveals the speaker’s personality and motivations. And although the novel has a tragic beginning, there are increasing moments of happiness, hope and humour as the novel progresses.
The Sum of our Sorrows is an absorbing and ultimately uplifting novel with characters that the reader can care about, who stay in the mind after the book is closed.
Each character in the novel is distinct and each experiences grief and loss in a unique way. Dalton Sheppard has lost his wife, the mainstay of his life, a woman who softened the harsher edges of his personality. The youngest sister, twelve-year-old Willow, seems the most vulnerable. But despite the frictions between other family members, their care for Willow is one thing that binds them together and softens some of their interactions. Char (Charlotte), the middle sister, was in the car when her mother died; her loss is complicated by her guilt at surviving. And Lily has lost not only her mother but her dreams of the future. Dalton, in what he presents as providing stability for the family, demands that Lily withdraw her application to college and take over what were her mother’s domestic responsibilities. This changes the normal teenaged friction between Lily and Char, driving a wedge between them as Char sees Lily’s new role as Lily trying to impersonate their mother.
Dalton’s orders isolate Lily from all those who could provide her support. She has little time to spend with her friends especially as Dalton makes her give up the part-time job she enjoys. Harder even than the loss of her dreams for the future is his edict that Lily is to have no contact with her mother’s best friend, a woman with whom Lily had previously had a good relationship and who could have provided Lily with emotional support and practical help.
The novel traces how Lily and her family deal with their grief and the other trials that life forces on them and the way Lily tries to negotiate her way through the circumscribed life Dalton has forced on her. The questions underlying much of the novel is how much Lily can endure, whether her father will finally recognize the unfairness of the burdens he has placed on her and, if he doesn’t, what the ultimately cost will be to them all if it becomes too much for Lily and she leaves.
The characters in The Sum of our Sorrows are all well rounded and believable, even the obnoxious (to my mind) Dalton. The interactions between the sisters capture that mixture of love and annoyance so common in families. Their dialogue is realistic and skillfully reveals the speaker’s personality and motivations. And although the novel has a tragic beginning, there are increasing moments of happiness, hope and humour as the novel progresses.
The Sum of our Sorrows is an absorbing and ultimately uplifting novel with characters that the reader can care about, who stay in the mind after the book is closed.
November 10, 2020
(Score: 4.5 - GR doesn't allow halves)
I hate words like "gripping," "unputdownable," "a page turner," but THIS IS IT. I started reading The Sum of our Sorrows in the morning. I had plans to do things and stuff. I didn't get anything done. I was angry when my stomach demanded to finally have (late) lunch. I kept reading while eating. I can't remember the last time I got so invested in a book. I only showered when I finished reading in the late afternoon, because it would have required a long (ten minute or so) break.
The first 3/4 of the book kept giving me that ominous feeling – edge-of-the-seat "what is going to happen" kind of thing. The first part, until A Pivotal Point That Would Be A Spoiler, was scary because of what was not being said, but implied by my own imagination. The second part was just an unexpected ride. I was reminded of Gone Girl, where the first part sounded rather predictable (except here it didn't)… then was followed by the second part that just seemed to go wherever it felt like and I felt like I needed seatbelts every time I turned the page. The atmosphere of the first half of Sorrows reminded me of… *digging for the right comparison* Rebecca? Jane Eyre? It's hard to say more without spoilers. It felt darker than it was. My imagination kept trying to fill in the gaps. And I just couldn't stop reading.
The only criticism I have is that similarly to my first Lisette Brodey book, Hotel Obscure, the dialogue often sounded too literary for me. This is especially true with Willow, who sounds too adult for her age. (I love her to pieces, though. Try to not love Willow.) This sometimes… not as much as pulled me out of the story, but reminded me I was definitely reading a book, rather than experiencing a life. Then the author would poke fun at a Certain Character that truly hath spoketh like they escaped a Victorian novel and I'd invariably have a chuckle, as if the book was self-conscious of how it was written. When I got to BCU (you'll see) I roared with laughter and I'm pretty sure you will as well.
The ending… I can't say anything without spoilers, but it was not what I expected. So really like the whole last part of the book after That Pivotal Point. Not in The Sixth Sense way, but… ugh, there's no way to say ANYTHING without spoilers. Go and read it.
I hate words like "gripping," "unputdownable," "a page turner," but THIS IS IT. I started reading The Sum of our Sorrows in the morning. I had plans to do things and stuff. I didn't get anything done. I was angry when my stomach demanded to finally have (late) lunch. I kept reading while eating. I can't remember the last time I got so invested in a book. I only showered when I finished reading in the late afternoon, because it would have required a long (ten minute or so) break.
The first 3/4 of the book kept giving me that ominous feeling – edge-of-the-seat "what is going to happen" kind of thing. The first part, until A Pivotal Point That Would Be A Spoiler, was scary because of what was not being said, but implied by my own imagination. The second part was just an unexpected ride. I was reminded of Gone Girl, where the first part sounded rather predictable (except here it didn't)… then was followed by the second part that just seemed to go wherever it felt like and I felt like I needed seatbelts every time I turned the page. The atmosphere of the first half of Sorrows reminded me of… *digging for the right comparison* Rebecca? Jane Eyre? It's hard to say more without spoilers. It felt darker than it was. My imagination kept trying to fill in the gaps. And I just couldn't stop reading.
The only criticism I have is that similarly to my first Lisette Brodey book, Hotel Obscure, the dialogue often sounded too literary for me. This is especially true with Willow, who sounds too adult for her age. (I love her to pieces, though. Try to not love Willow.) This sometimes… not as much as pulled me out of the story, but reminded me I was definitely reading a book, rather than experiencing a life. Then the author would poke fun at a Certain Character that truly hath spoketh like they escaped a Victorian novel and I'd invariably have a chuckle, as if the book was self-conscious of how it was written. When I got to BCU (you'll see) I roared with laughter and I'm pretty sure you will as well.
The ending… I can't say anything without spoilers, but it was not what I expected. So really like the whole last part of the book after That Pivotal Point. Not in The Sixth Sense way, but… ugh, there's no way to say ANYTHING without spoilers. Go and read it.
November 21, 2020
The Sum or Our Sorrows by Lisette Brodey
The story revolves around the Sheppard family. Lily, Char and Willow just lost their mother in a tragic auto accident. Their Father (Dalton) expects the eldest daughter (Lily) to take care of her younger sisters. This puts Lily in a no win situation, she wants to be loyal to her family, yet she wants to grow and move on with her adult life. Being a young adult faced with this obligation is definitely taking a toll on her in every way imaginable.
Char the middle daughter is a bit rebellious, she goes through a lot at a young age. Willow the youngest, is wise for her years. She seems to be adjusting, yet she is also struggling with her new life. Dalton has a hard time adjusting to the death of his wife and has some unrealistic expectations. The death of Abby Sheppard has greatly impacted the entire family.
An original story that moves at a steady pace, emotionally charged, engaging, and at times quite intense. The characters are well developed. I was able to relate to what each person was going through, I felt as if I were part of the family.
Overall I found The Sum of our Sorrows very enjoyable. It definitively had all the feels; Family, friendship, grief, healing, hope, love and survival. I highly recommend to Young Adult* & Adult readers.
*I feel 16+ due to some sexual content and language
The story revolves around the Sheppard family. Lily, Char and Willow just lost their mother in a tragic auto accident. Their Father (Dalton) expects the eldest daughter (Lily) to take care of her younger sisters. This puts Lily in a no win situation, she wants to be loyal to her family, yet she wants to grow and move on with her adult life. Being a young adult faced with this obligation is definitely taking a toll on her in every way imaginable.
Char the middle daughter is a bit rebellious, she goes through a lot at a young age. Willow the youngest, is wise for her years. She seems to be adjusting, yet she is also struggling with her new life. Dalton has a hard time adjusting to the death of his wife and has some unrealistic expectations. The death of Abby Sheppard has greatly impacted the entire family.
An original story that moves at a steady pace, emotionally charged, engaging, and at times quite intense. The characters are well developed. I was able to relate to what each person was going through, I felt as if I were part of the family.
Overall I found The Sum of our Sorrows very enjoyable. It definitively had all the feels; Family, friendship, grief, healing, hope, love and survival. I highly recommend to Young Adult* & Adult readers.
*I feel 16+ due to some sexual content and language
September 4, 2025
The Sum of All Sorrows
This book is profound, and the writing is superlative. We start with love and loss and how it affects loved ones still living. Let me say right now, everyone has their own vision of Loss and how they coped, healthy or not. The one constant in this story is family and family isn't always blood. Family includes those you want in your life. The book is epic in length, but still an easy read. I do love how hope and love of family brings everyone together in a full circle. Alcohol is not the answer to huge loss, and making your daughter into a surrogate mother isn't real. I have one trigger warning for those who could be affected and that is one scene of attempted rape, and one of rape. The monster who did this, the rape itself, are not a full read into the scene, but the character who was raped was verbal at the time, and in severe nightmares. The actual act is not in this book. So you may not be triggered. Overall, the psychology of each character is amazing to think about. I do love a good love story and this novel has several to say the least.
This book is profound, and the writing is superlative. We start with love and loss and how it affects loved ones still living. Let me say right now, everyone has their own vision of Loss and how they coped, healthy or not. The one constant in this story is family and family isn't always blood. Family includes those you want in your life. The book is epic in length, but still an easy read. I do love how hope and love of family brings everyone together in a full circle. Alcohol is not the answer to huge loss, and making your daughter into a surrogate mother isn't real. I have one trigger warning for those who could be affected and that is one scene of attempted rape, and one of rape. The monster who did this, the rape itself, are not a full read into the scene, but the character who was raped was verbal at the time, and in severe nightmares. The actual act is not in this book. So you may not be triggered. Overall, the psychology of each character is amazing to think about. I do love a good love story and this novel has several to say the least.
January 30, 2021
Lisette Brodey is one of those authors who writes for her readers. It occurred to me while reading The Sum of Our Sorrows that if you like to lose yourself in a good story featuring relatable people (and a few nasty ones), Brodey, and this book in particular, was for you. It begins in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy. Eighteen year old Lily, along with her 2 younger sisters lose their mother in car crash. Her fifteen year old sister is in the car and traumatized. Her father is devastated, drinking and seems to lose himself. In the weeks that follow Lily will lose her friends and dreams too. This family is tortured in its grief, and she has to hold it all together. The story follows her, and the subsequent events, leading to love, disclosure and redemption. I have rarely appreciated the writer’s commitment to good fluid prose more than in this book. It is a cliché to say that you were “captured by the story” but in this case I certainly was. I can see The Sum of Our Sorrows appealing to many diverse readers on that basis alone. Highly recommended, with tea by the garden.
October 29, 2024
This is a multifaceted story with challenging aspects that took me through a range of emotions which within the first few pages had quickly grasped my attention.
I soon found myself rooting for Lily whilst exuding anger towards her father Dalton. Lily steps up to the unexpected challenge she’s forced to except admirably and her grief not only for her mother, but also for her immediate future is palpable.
What follows is a tale that will pull at your heart strings one moment and leave you gasping in disbelief the next. I really loved meeting ‘Bonstance Constance Universe,’ and applaud the author on the clever creation of such a quirky character. Some of her scenes had me laughing out loud and the clever plot twists that followed were outstanding!
I really enjoyed how the author weaved in a connection to the Cotswolds in the UK. It presented an intriguing storyline and I loved how it played out.
This is a well-written, realistic and emotional tale that I thoroughly enjoyed. A worthy 5 star rating.
I soon found myself rooting for Lily whilst exuding anger towards her father Dalton. Lily steps up to the unexpected challenge she’s forced to except admirably and her grief not only for her mother, but also for her immediate future is palpable.
What follows is a tale that will pull at your heart strings one moment and leave you gasping in disbelief the next. I really loved meeting ‘Bonstance Constance Universe,’ and applaud the author on the clever creation of such a quirky character. Some of her scenes had me laughing out loud and the clever plot twists that followed were outstanding!
I really enjoyed how the author weaved in a connection to the Cotswolds in the UK. It presented an intriguing storyline and I loved how it played out.
This is a well-written, realistic and emotional tale that I thoroughly enjoyed. A worthy 5 star rating.
November 11, 2020
Grief is a powerful emotion that grips your heart and won't let go. When you add adult responsibility to a teenage girl that has just lost her mother, that's where Lily's story begins. With no time to process her pain, Lily is thrown into the role of 'mum' in all ways to her two younger siblings and she's expected to do all the cleaning, cooking, etc, plus console her sisters through their pain. Lily takes charge, but verbally and mentally fights the responsibility since she will soon graduate and had plans to attend fashion design school in LA. Life is horrendous as she tries to move forward. Anything that could happen, did. Thank goodness for her mum's best friend, Kady who understands and listens to Lily. Tragedies continue to pile up though and Lily has had enough. That's where this story takes a sharp turn. Without giving too much away, something wonderful finally happens for Lily, yet it's not the end of her troubles. You'll have to read this amazing book to find out all that she has to face. The author put her characters through the emotional ringer; everything from mind-numbing loss to extreme joy - and everything in between. This story is so well-written that when Lily was torn between loyalty to her family and wanting to break out on her own, I felt those same emotions. I also experienced joy when it finally came. As the story evolved, all of the characters' strengths and flaws were revealed, not just Lily's. There are some recurring themes in this story, but one powerful one jumped out at me from the beginning - how life can change in a blink and the only thing you can do is follow your gut to survive. Sometimes you make the right decisions due to the change, but sometimes you don't. All you can do is try your best and hope it's enough.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews