What do you think?
Rate this book
The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine meets Early Morning Riser with a dash of Where’d You Go, Bernadette in this “funny and insightful” ( Real Simple ) novel about one woman whose life is turned upside down when she becomes caregiver to her sister with special needs.
Every family has its fault lines, and when Maggie gets a call from the ER in Maryland where her older sister lives, the cracks start to appear. Ginny, her sugar-loving and diabetic older sister with intellectual disabilities, has overdosed on strawberry Jell-O.
Maggie knows Ginny really can’t live on her own, so she brings her sister and her occasionally vicious dog to live near her in upstate New York. Their other sister, Betsy, is against the idea but as a professional surfer, she is conveniently thousands of miles away.
Thus, Maggie’s life as a caretaker begins. It will take all of her dark humor and patience, already spread thin after a separation, raising two boys, freelancing, an ex who just won’t go away, and starting a dating life, to deal with Ginny’s diapers, sugar addiction, porn habit, and refusal to cooperate. “The Frederick sisters will have you laughing out loud—often through tears—in this roller coaster ride of a novel that explores what it means to be family” (Tracey Lange, New York Times bestselling author).
Every family has its fault lines, and when Maggie gets a call from the ER in Maryland where her older sister lives, the cracks start to appear. Ginny, her sugar-loving and diabetic older sister with intellectual disabilities, has overdosed on strawberry Jell-O.
Maggie knows Ginny really can’t live on her own, so she brings her sister and her occasionally vicious dog to live near her in upstate New York. Their other sister, Betsy, is against the idea but as a professional surfer, she is conveniently thousands of miles away.
Thus, Maggie’s life as a caretaker begins. It will take all of her dark humor and patience, already spread thin after a separation, raising two boys, freelancing, an ex who just won’t go away, and starting a dating life, to deal with Ginny’s diapers, sugar addiction, porn habit, and refusal to cooperate. “The Frederick sisters will have you laughing out loud—often through tears—in this roller coaster ride of a novel that explores what it means to be family” (Tracey Lange, New York Times bestselling author).
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2022
140 people are currently reading
6267 people want to read
About the author
Jeannie Zusy
3 books60 followersJeannie Zusy has written many full-length plays, some screenplays and stories. The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream is her first novel. She has two young-adult daughters and lives with her husband and creatures in New York’s Hudson River Valley.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 456 reviews
August 16, 2022
The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream could be called The Curse of the Caregiver. The guilt. The anger. The lack of time. The feeling that no matter what you’re doing it’s wrong/not enough/unappreciated. Maggie gets the call no one wants to get. Her developmentally challenged sister is in the hospital. She’s been living independently down in Maryland, but she wasn’t handling her diabetes, has gotten sepsis and now needs rehab. So Maggie brings her and her ornery dog north to NY State. And it’s not like Maggie doesn’t have other things on her plate - she’s left her irresponsible husband, has two teenage sons and a demanding job. Her older sister is living her own life on the west coast and can’t be bothered.
I felt for Maggie. Zusy takes her time setting up the story and fleshing out both sisters. Ginny is with it enough to want her independence, even if she can’t fully understand the repercussions of some of her actions. Maggie has always been the responsible sister and it’s weighing on her. She’s drinking too much and forgetting how to have fun. We don’t get a real sense of Bets until well into the book. And even then, I struggled to accept what she saw as her reality.
The story has a lot to say about the right of someone to make their decisions. It was a reminder that being mentally challenged doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still get a say in your life.
My dad had hired caregivers at the end of his life and these folks (so often foreign born because of our visa program) are some of the most caring folks imaginable. Zusy really captures their willingness to go above and beyond.
This wasn’t a humorous book except sometimes in a sad ha-ha way. Still, it resonated with me and was a heartfelt reminder of the power of families.
My thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.
Update - I’ve been thinking more about this book over the past day. The one thing Zusy didn’t touch on, but which is a huge reality, is the cost of providing round the clock care and the worry about the money running out.
I felt for Maggie. Zusy takes her time setting up the story and fleshing out both sisters. Ginny is with it enough to want her independence, even if she can’t fully understand the repercussions of some of her actions. Maggie has always been the responsible sister and it’s weighing on her. She’s drinking too much and forgetting how to have fun. We don’t get a real sense of Bets until well into the book. And even then, I struggled to accept what she saw as her reality.
The story has a lot to say about the right of someone to make their decisions. It was a reminder that being mentally challenged doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still get a say in your life.
My dad had hired caregivers at the end of his life and these folks (so often foreign born because of our visa program) are some of the most caring folks imaginable. Zusy really captures their willingness to go above and beyond.
This wasn’t a humorous book except sometimes in a sad ha-ha way. Still, it resonated with me and was a heartfelt reminder of the power of families.
My thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.
Update - I’ve been thinking more about this book over the past day. The one thing Zusy didn’t touch on, but which is a huge reality, is the cost of providing round the clock care and the worry about the money running out.
September 11, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an egalley in exchange for an honest review
Publisher Description: Every family has its fault lines, and when Maggie gets a call from the ER in Maryland where her older sister lives, the cracks start to appear. Ginny, her sugar-loving and diabetic older sister with intellectual disabilities, has overdosed on strawberry Jell-O.
Maggie knows Ginny really can’t live on her own, so she brings her sister and her occasionally vicious dog to live near her in upstate New York. Their other sister, Betsy, is against the idea but as a professional surfer, she is conveniently thousands of miles away.
Thus, Maggie’s life as a caretaker begins. It will take all of her dark humor and patience, already spread thin after a separation, raising two boys, freelancing, and starting a dating life, to deal with Ginny’s diapers, sugar addiction, porn habit, and refusal to cooperate. Add two devoted but feuding immigrant aides and a soon-to-be ex-husband who just won’t go away, and you’ve got a story that will leave you laughing through your tears as you wonder who is actually taking care of whom.
My Thoughts:
By looking at many of the reviews on Goodreads and NetGalley, I appear to be in the minority of not really enjoying this debut novel. Personally, it was a very slow moving plot, the angle of the novel was to write as a stream of consciousness from the point of view of youngest sister, Maggie and I felt this kept me at arm's length of really understanding Ginny or Betsy. Although there is a beautiful moment between Maggie and Bets later in the novel which explained a lot of the tension within the family, it came too late to build that connection. It is easy to see that the author creates complex characters and I am sure this will draw many readers in. For me, I sometimes felt like not finishing it BUT kept on pushing because it was an ARC.
On the other hand, did Jeannie Zusy illustrate the ups and downs of being a family member's caregiver? Absolutely! I think if I walked away with anything from this novel, it was how difficult it can be to be put in that position. Making decisions that the person you are caring for doesn't always appreciate. Like Maggie's oldest son says, Maggie had a lot of patience for the way Ginny sometimes acted or reacted to her younger sister's arrangements.
All in all, there were some touching moments between sisters but the story as a whole didn't grab me.
Expected Publication Date 20/09/22
Goodreads review published 27/07/22
Publisher Description: Every family has its fault lines, and when Maggie gets a call from the ER in Maryland where her older sister lives, the cracks start to appear. Ginny, her sugar-loving and diabetic older sister with intellectual disabilities, has overdosed on strawberry Jell-O.
Maggie knows Ginny really can’t live on her own, so she brings her sister and her occasionally vicious dog to live near her in upstate New York. Their other sister, Betsy, is against the idea but as a professional surfer, she is conveniently thousands of miles away.
Thus, Maggie’s life as a caretaker begins. It will take all of her dark humor and patience, already spread thin after a separation, raising two boys, freelancing, and starting a dating life, to deal with Ginny’s diapers, sugar addiction, porn habit, and refusal to cooperate. Add two devoted but feuding immigrant aides and a soon-to-be ex-husband who just won’t go away, and you’ve got a story that will leave you laughing through your tears as you wonder who is actually taking care of whom.
My Thoughts:
By looking at many of the reviews on Goodreads and NetGalley, I appear to be in the minority of not really enjoying this debut novel. Personally, it was a very slow moving plot, the angle of the novel was to write as a stream of consciousness from the point of view of youngest sister, Maggie and I felt this kept me at arm's length of really understanding Ginny or Betsy. Although there is a beautiful moment between Maggie and Bets later in the novel which explained a lot of the tension within the family, it came too late to build that connection. It is easy to see that the author creates complex characters and I am sure this will draw many readers in. For me, I sometimes felt like not finishing it BUT kept on pushing because it was an ARC.
On the other hand, did Jeannie Zusy illustrate the ups and downs of being a family member's caregiver? Absolutely! I think if I walked away with anything from this novel, it was how difficult it can be to be put in that position. Making decisions that the person you are caring for doesn't always appreciate. Like Maggie's oldest son says, Maggie had a lot of patience for the way Ginny sometimes acted or reacted to her younger sister's arrangements.
All in all, there were some touching moments between sisters but the story as a whole didn't grab me.
Expected Publication Date 20/09/22
Goodreads review published 27/07/22
June 8, 2022
A special Thanks to Atria and Simon & Schuster for this ARC for an honest review. 📚 🥰
I was thrilled to get this book just by reading the description—nothing is missing here from many of our typical dysfunctional lives and learning to cope while juggling so many different balls. My teenage son is in a wheelchair and has had lots of medical issues all his life—including multiple frightening brain surgeries—while I deal with the ex, so I immediately fell in love with Maggie and her struggles. Author Jeannie Zusy is brilliantly funny while also delivering moments that’ll tear your heart out. Great Summer read you’ll never forget. 🏝 🌞 🍹
I was thrilled to get this book just by reading the description—nothing is missing here from many of our typical dysfunctional lives and learning to cope while juggling so many different balls. My teenage son is in a wheelchair and has had lots of medical issues all his life—including multiple frightening brain surgeries—while I deal with the ex, so I immediately fell in love with Maggie and her struggles. Author Jeannie Zusy is brilliantly funny while also delivering moments that’ll tear your heart out. Great Summer read you’ll never forget. 🏝 🌞 🍹
August 18, 2022
Three sisters, two dogs and a bevy of interesting characters.
The Frederick sisters are all quirky and a good lesson that your perspective (even on your own family) is only your own, and may not be shared or agreed upon by the other members of your family.
Maggie is on her way to move her middle sister Ginny closer to her home after she suffered a fall, and hasn't been keeping up on her hygiene. Ginny has some developmental disabilities, though never specifically named throughout the book. Maggie carries the weight of the world on her shoulders, going through a divorce, raising two teenage sons and caring for her sister keeps her overwhelmed. Meanwhile, the oldest sister lives on the West coast as a surf phenom.
This worked in a weird way, but didn't quite capture my heart as I had intended it to. The writing was a little choppy and the book is only broken down into four parts (super long chapters), it felt a little meandering, and not in a good way. It eventually got there in the end, but made the journey a little questionable.
Thank you to Book Club Favorites at Simon & Schuster for the free copy for review.
The Frederick sisters are all quirky and a good lesson that your perspective (even on your own family) is only your own, and may not be shared or agreed upon by the other members of your family.
Maggie is on her way to move her middle sister Ginny closer to her home after she suffered a fall, and hasn't been keeping up on her hygiene. Ginny has some developmental disabilities, though never specifically named throughout the book. Maggie carries the weight of the world on her shoulders, going through a divorce, raising two teenage sons and caring for her sister keeps her overwhelmed. Meanwhile, the oldest sister lives on the West coast as a surf phenom.
This worked in a weird way, but didn't quite capture my heart as I had intended it to. The writing was a little choppy and the book is only broken down into four parts (super long chapters), it felt a little meandering, and not in a good way. It eventually got there in the end, but made the journey a little questionable.
Thank you to Book Club Favorites at Simon & Schuster for the free copy for review.
January 8, 2022
(free review copy) I absolutely LOVED this quirky story! It’s refreshingly original, hilarious, heartfelt and just so damn real. It’s for anyone who has parented teens or young adults, for anyone who has been a caretaker of an adult, for sisters, and for anyone who has experienced the roller coaster that is a long marriage. Readers in middle age and older will probably appreciate this most but I highly recommend that everyone give it a try with an open mind because there just aren’t enough stories about adults with intellectual disabilities and the families who love them ❤️
February 28, 2022
3.5 stars
This is a story of sisters, the bond they share as sisters, a bond that also seems to divide them, as each holds a different belief about themselves and their lives. It’s a story of growing up, as well as growing apart. A story of trying to remember the past, and trying to forget it.
Ginny is the middle child, but the lives of the oldest sister, Betsy, or Bets as she prefers to be called, and the youngest vary, as do their memories of the past. Bets left their home in Maryland as soon as she possibly could for seemingly greener pastures in California. Chasing a dream. Maggie, the youngest, recently separated, is living in a small town near the Hudson River, an hour outside of New York City.
As this begins, Maggie is bringing Ginny along with her pup Rascal, along with her baby doll to a rehabilitation center near her. Not for drugs, but because Ginny has ’intellectual disabilities’ that have begun to limit her ability to care for herself. Maggie wants her nearby, someplace where she can keep a better eye on her, and make sure she’s taking care of herself. Ginny has already told her that she doesn’t want to go to New York to live, in a defiant ’over my dead body’ determination to remain right where she is. But Ginny’s health is in jeopardy, as well, since she prefers sugar coated everything to a healthier diet, and the rehabilitation center can begin to get her on the right path with that - with or without her cooperation. At least that’s what Ginny thinks.
In the meantime, Maggie is trying to deal with her recent separation, her two teenage boys, as well as a job that seems to keep her awake until late in the night, refining illustrations from people who seem to frequently change their mind about what they thought they wanted for their advertisement. Everyone wants more from her than she has left to give, and she’s just added one more block to her jenga-ishly balanced, or unbalanced, life.
Juggling all these things, along with a stale love life lead her to try to find some degree of happiness, but between her job, her sister, her kids, the husband she’s technically separated from, a love life is hard to imagine. Still, she tries, but life always seems to get in the way, or her attempts to date always seem to leave her wanting more. Her dates are, well, unfortunately found to be undateable fairly early on.
This is touted as being along the lines of ’Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine meets Early Morning Riser with a dash of Where’d You Go, Bernadette.’ I haven’t read Early Morning Rise so I can’t really comment on that, but this is definitely quirky and has some charming moments, but plenty of familial animosity, as well. Lots of blame, lots of finger pointing, but also love. Love, and a recognition that, perhaps, none of them are perfect. No one is.
Pub Date: 20 Sep 2022
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Atria Books / Simon & Schuster
December 23, 2021
What a great story. A funny and sad story about family and responsibility. Maggie tries to keep everything in her life under control while going through a big change. Her older sister Ginny, born with intellectual disabilities, can no longer care for herself. This story is such a complex and compelling family drama. There is humor and reality. A story that you will really love. I highly recommend.
March 28, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Written in a narration style, the main character takes the reader on a journey through her life. This is the story of a wife/mother/sister who gives of herself, struggles with self-doubt, and worries that she's not enough for her family.
I love that the author pulled from her own family background and created a character who struggles with a learning disability. She did a great job conveying the struggle family members have in caring for someone with disabilities. The book is not all serious reflection though, there is plenty of humor to lighten the topic.
I definitely recommend you put this book in your TBR for September. Thank you NetGalley and Altria Books for an ARC and opportunity to review this book.
I love that the author pulled from her own family background and created a character who struggles with a learning disability. She did a great job conveying the struggle family members have in caring for someone with disabilities. The book is not all serious reflection though, there is plenty of humor to lighten the topic.
I definitely recommend you put this book in your TBR for September. Thank you NetGalley and Altria Books for an ARC and opportunity to review this book.
February 14, 2023
3.5***
This is a novel of family in which the key events are the kinds of everyday disasters many families must deal with: a hospitalization, a teenager learning to drive, an accident, a holiday dinner that goes awry.
The three Frederick sisters are: Betsy, a professional surfer; Virginia (Ginny), a mentally challenged diabetic; and Maggie, the youngest and most dependable. The book begins when Maggie gets a call from the ER in Maryland, informing her that Ginny has apparently overdosed on strawberry Jell-O. Rushing south from her New York home, Maggie quickly understands that Ginny can really no longer live alone, and brings both Maggie and her large, occasionally aggressive, dog back to the Hudson Valley town where Maggie lives with her teenaged sons.
The family dynamics in this book are spot on. Ginny may have some intellectual disabilities, but she is a master manipulator, quickly knowing her sisters’ weak spots and how best to get to them. She is stubborn and insistent on getting her own way. Maggie is dealing with a failing marriage and two sons she can’t quite control. And she has taken on the “parental” role in regard to Ginny. Who else will do it? Not Betsy, who took off for California and the life of a celebrity surfer just as soon as she could. But while Maggie is focusing her energies on how best to help her sister (who seems to not want any help), she is ignoring her own needs and issues.
The side characters, especially home health aides Philomena and Lika, are wonderfully drawn. They both observe and subtly (or not so subtly) change the family dynamic with a word or determined act. And Maggie’s sons, especially Leo, are real charmers.
It’s a lovely debut and I look forward to reading Zusy’s next novel.
This is a novel of family in which the key events are the kinds of everyday disasters many families must deal with: a hospitalization, a teenager learning to drive, an accident, a holiday dinner that goes awry.
The three Frederick sisters are: Betsy, a professional surfer; Virginia (Ginny), a mentally challenged diabetic; and Maggie, the youngest and most dependable. The book begins when Maggie gets a call from the ER in Maryland, informing her that Ginny has apparently overdosed on strawberry Jell-O. Rushing south from her New York home, Maggie quickly understands that Ginny can really no longer live alone, and brings both Maggie and her large, occasionally aggressive, dog back to the Hudson Valley town where Maggie lives with her teenaged sons.
The family dynamics in this book are spot on. Ginny may have some intellectual disabilities, but she is a master manipulator, quickly knowing her sisters’ weak spots and how best to get to them. She is stubborn and insistent on getting her own way. Maggie is dealing with a failing marriage and two sons she can’t quite control. And she has taken on the “parental” role in regard to Ginny. Who else will do it? Not Betsy, who took off for California and the life of a celebrity surfer just as soon as she could. But while Maggie is focusing her energies on how best to help her sister (who seems to not want any help), she is ignoring her own needs and issues.
The side characters, especially home health aides Philomena and Lika, are wonderfully drawn. They both observe and subtly (or not so subtly) change the family dynamic with a word or determined act. And Maggie’s sons, especially Leo, are real charmers.
It’s a lovely debut and I look forward to reading Zusy’s next novel.
September 8, 2022
Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream by Jeannie Zusy is a look at a woman who is a caretaker to her sister with intellectual disabilities. It’s emotional, funny, and a bit chaotic, but totally worthwhile reading.
Maggie is the youngest of three sisters and lives just outside of New York City with her two almost adult sons. Betsy is the oldest and is living the dream out in California, running a surfing school. Ginny is the middle child and she is diabetic and has intellectual disabilities and lives independently in Maryland where the family grew up.
When Maggie gets a call that her sister, Ginny is in the hospital, she doesn’t hesitate to drop everything and go help her. But, when she gets to Maryland, she realizes that Ginny needs more help than she expected. She decides to bring her to New York where she can live closer. But, Maggie has her own chaotic life. She’s separated from her husband and trying to date while raising two boys and keeping up with her freelance job.
Maggie is far from perfect and makes her own mistakes in her life, but her love for her sister is never in question. I liked how the book demonstrated both the highs and lows of being a caretaker. Ginny was my favorite character. She was always so frank, and her observations of the family were sometimes right on point.
The writing was a stream of consciousness from the main character, Maggie. We all find out how her actions affect others around her at the same time she does. I thought the middle was a bit slow, but it was also full of the frustrations and challenges of caring for an adult with intellectual disabilities and day-to-day family issues.
Overall this is a heartwarming story about the difficulties of being a caretaker, a mother, a wife, and a sister, and still trying to be her own person.
I highly recommend The Frederick Sisters are Living the Dream to anyone who enjoys heartwarming fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream by Jeannie Zusy is a look at a woman who is a caretaker to her sister with intellectual disabilities. It’s emotional, funny, and a bit chaotic, but totally worthwhile reading.
Maggie is the youngest of three sisters and lives just outside of New York City with her two almost adult sons. Betsy is the oldest and is living the dream out in California, running a surfing school. Ginny is the middle child and she is diabetic and has intellectual disabilities and lives independently in Maryland where the family grew up.
When Maggie gets a call that her sister, Ginny is in the hospital, she doesn’t hesitate to drop everything and go help her. But, when she gets to Maryland, she realizes that Ginny needs more help than she expected. She decides to bring her to New York where she can live closer. But, Maggie has her own chaotic life. She’s separated from her husband and trying to date while raising two boys and keeping up with her freelance job.
Maggie is far from perfect and makes her own mistakes in her life, but her love for her sister is never in question. I liked how the book demonstrated both the highs and lows of being a caretaker. Ginny was my favorite character. She was always so frank, and her observations of the family were sometimes right on point.
The writing was a stream of consciousness from the main character, Maggie. We all find out how her actions affect others around her at the same time she does. I thought the middle was a bit slow, but it was also full of the frustrations and challenges of caring for an adult with intellectual disabilities and day-to-day family issues.
Overall this is a heartwarming story about the difficulties of being a caretaker, a mother, a wife, and a sister, and still trying to be her own person.
I highly recommend The Frederick Sisters are Living the Dream to anyone who enjoys heartwarming fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 31, 2024
For a book I'm only giving 3-stars, I''ve been spending a lot of time thinking about what I want to say in my review. It's been almost a week since I've finished. I thought I was taking a break from my more challenging books by reading it but it's been a head-scratcher; and taking up too much of my damn thinking time.
The story is about three American, middle-aged sisters, Betsy, Ginny and Maggie. The middle sister, Ginny, has intellectual disablities. She learned to drive a car and was able to support herself with a fast-food worker job plus money left to her by their deceased parents. This changes when Ginny ends up in the ER from a sugar overdose. Little sister, Maggie, thinks Ginny should no longer live by herself. Oldest sister Bets, a surfer dudette/instructor in California, thinks they should leave her alone. The ensuing struggle veers back and forth from tragic to hilarious. I myself have some old-age physical disabilities (not mental - yet) and my little sister is beginning to hover around me. Sometimes I enjoy it but at other times not.
I can see many sides to this story. I do like the ending. The author concludes the story during a calm in their storm - waiting until the next good or bad thing comes along. Just like real in life.
The story is about three American, middle-aged sisters, Betsy, Ginny and Maggie. The middle sister, Ginny, has intellectual disablities. She learned to drive a car and was able to support herself with a fast-food worker job plus money left to her by their deceased parents. This changes when Ginny ends up in the ER from a sugar overdose. Little sister, Maggie, thinks Ginny should no longer live by herself. Oldest sister Bets, a surfer dudette/instructor in California, thinks they should leave her alone. The ensuing struggle veers back and forth from tragic to hilarious. I myself have some old-age physical disabilities (not mental - yet) and my little sister is beginning to hover around me. Sometimes I enjoy it but at other times not.
I can see many sides to this story. I do like the ending. The author concludes the story during a calm in their storm - waiting until the next good or bad thing comes along. Just like real in life.
October 7, 2022
*Won in Instagram giveaway off Atria books galley bag giveaway ✨️ *
Love when something lives up to your expectations:) didn't want to leave these people.
Love when something lives up to your expectations:) didn't want to leave these people.
April 29, 2022
This novel tells the slow unraveling of an overburdened woman- many of whom will relate to. Maggie, aka Maggie-Do, does a lot. She has two teenage boys, a demanding job, and has recently separated from her husband, who for the most part acted like a third child for 20+ years. When her older sister with undisclosed mental disabilities almost dies from eating too much sugar, Maggie takes on an additional task: managing the life of Ginny. Covering nearly four years and told in a stream of conscious-like narrative, I really wanted to like The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream: A Novel... I just didn't.
First, it was incredibly hard to get into. If this wasn't an ARC, I would've DNF'd. But, I pushed through and it never felt like I stopped pushing.
Zusy, undoubtedly, writes complex characters. I felt for Maggie. I wanted her life to become easier. I wanted so much more for her. But, because of the way the story was told (more of Maggie summarizing everything occurring, sometimes spanning a year in a single paragraph), I never felt super connected to the events of the story. It was more like I was reading a summarized version of her life story. And here's where I'll admit that I don't usually love novels spanning a lot of time, especially if they're character-driven, so this could be a personal preference.
Because I wasn't super invested in the characters, the constant (and long) stories from the past ended up feeling long and boring. The book never really felt insightful enough to make these feel warranted nor engaging enough to keep my interest.
In the end, I think the premise of the story would appeal to many but just didn't do it for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader's copy of this book, which should publish in September 2022.
First, it was incredibly hard to get into. If this wasn't an ARC, I would've DNF'd. But, I pushed through and it never felt like I stopped pushing.
Zusy, undoubtedly, writes complex characters. I felt for Maggie. I wanted her life to become easier. I wanted so much more for her. But, because of the way the story was told (more of Maggie summarizing everything occurring, sometimes spanning a year in a single paragraph), I never felt super connected to the events of the story. It was more like I was reading a summarized version of her life story. And here's where I'll admit that I don't usually love novels spanning a lot of time, especially if they're character-driven, so this could be a personal preference.
Because I wasn't super invested in the characters, the constant (and long) stories from the past ended up feeling long and boring. The book never really felt insightful enough to make these feel warranted nor engaging enough to keep my interest.
In the end, I think the premise of the story would appeal to many but just didn't do it for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader's copy of this book, which should publish in September 2022.
July 27, 2022
This book depicts three sisters' struggles and the relationship they have with one another. What is really interesting is that one of the Frederick sisters is a special needs adult. I requested this arc as it compared itself to Elinor Oliphant, a book I absolutely adored. Unfortunately, it did not live up to Elinor Oliphant. Although both books have overburdened, somewhat morose characters I did not connect as deeply with this MC. Maybe because I did not connect with the characters the long interludes into the past did nothing to enhance the story and in fact made it drag a bit.
Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for allowing me to review this arc.
Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for allowing me to review this arc.
dnf
September 13, 2022Dnf at 33%. Unfortunately the story just falls flat. I could have continued on but I didn’t want to spend another 4 hours for a 3 star read. Definitely disappointed.
March 7, 2023
Maggie Frederick might be the youngest of three sisters, but going against the sibling stereotype, she’s also the most responsible. Her eldest sister, Betsy, conveniently lives on the other side of the country. There she’s seemingly sitting pretty- making a name for herself as a professional surfer and flirting with a Dancing With the Stars stint-all while successfully shirking any familial responsibilities, that is.
Meanwhile their other sister, Ginny, has intellectual disabilities that Maggie has tended to (on some level) all of her adult life. Then one day, Maggie gets a call that the diabetic Ginny is in the ER. Realizing Ginny is no longer capable of living completely on her own, Maggie moves her to be closer to her. Initially Ginny is placed in a care facility, but she quickly overstays her welcome. Before long Maggie makes the difficult decision to hire home care, allowing the fiercely independent Ginny to be as self sufficient as possible.
The complicated sister dynamic is the root of this story, but this book is also a unique blend of humor and heartbreak. Although it’s told solely from Maggie’s perspective, both Ginny, and even to a certain extent, Betsy’s wants and needs shine through. Walking the fine line, writer Jeannie Zusy painfully outlines what it’s like to be the care taker for a mentally challenged sibling, all while managing to inject some much needed laughs to diffuse the situation. After all, they don’t say you laugh so you don’t cry for nothing!
In some ways this book reminded me of the movie Rainman in its descriptive depiction of the difficult power struggle that can occur when one sibling is aware they have to me the taker and never the giver. The ironic title is not lost on this reader, how its poignant message is what will really stick with me.
Meanwhile their other sister, Ginny, has intellectual disabilities that Maggie has tended to (on some level) all of her adult life. Then one day, Maggie gets a call that the diabetic Ginny is in the ER. Realizing Ginny is no longer capable of living completely on her own, Maggie moves her to be closer to her. Initially Ginny is placed in a care facility, but she quickly overstays her welcome. Before long Maggie makes the difficult decision to hire home care, allowing the fiercely independent Ginny to be as self sufficient as possible.
The complicated sister dynamic is the root of this story, but this book is also a unique blend of humor and heartbreak. Although it’s told solely from Maggie’s perspective, both Ginny, and even to a certain extent, Betsy’s wants and needs shine through. Walking the fine line, writer Jeannie Zusy painfully outlines what it’s like to be the care taker for a mentally challenged sibling, all while managing to inject some much needed laughs to diffuse the situation. After all, they don’t say you laugh so you don’t cry for nothing!
In some ways this book reminded me of the movie Rainman in its descriptive depiction of the difficult power struggle that can occur when one sibling is aware they have to me the taker and never the giver. The ironic title is not lost on this reader, how its poignant message is what will really stick with me.
August 11, 2022
2.5 Stars
I understand that the author based this book on her experiences with her brother. My younger sister, my husband, and I had similar issues with a loved one (my mother), and we didn't have any money, so I think I see things from a slightly different perspective. It's either that, or I am just a cold-hearted bitch. Many issues could have been handled differently, but again I am seeing this from a different perspective. We had legal guardianship of my mother, and I had a steely heart. (enough about my life, I'm just letting you know that a lot of others have gone through similar things but had different outcomes.
Where anyone found humor in this book, I just can't tell you because I found absolutely none.
This book is filled with things that may set sensitive people or people being caregivers off. This seemed like more of a book about slow suicide than anything else, and the fact that the younger sister could not make consistent caregiver decisions.
My mom did not have developmental problems (she was a drinker), but in the end, she was no different than Ginny (Gin-Gin ).
Yes, this is a book about sisterly/caregiver relationships, but it took nearly the entire book for me to get the feeling that anyone was giving honest reactions. Yes, I realize that this is fiction, but for me, it just hit too close to home.
There were a couple of interesting twists at the end, but for some reason, this book didn't seem finished (If you know what I mean) to me.
All in all a good read but a mostly depressing one and no humor to be found.
*ARC supplied by the publisher Atria Books, the author, and NetGalley.
I understand that the author based this book on her experiences with her brother. My younger sister, my husband, and I had similar issues with a loved one (my mother), and we didn't have any money, so I think I see things from a slightly different perspective. It's either that, or I am just a cold-hearted bitch. Many issues could have been handled differently, but again I am seeing this from a different perspective. We had legal guardianship of my mother, and I had a steely heart. (enough about my life, I'm just letting you know that a lot of others have gone through similar things but had different outcomes.
Where anyone found humor in this book, I just can't tell you because I found absolutely none.
This book is filled with things that may set sensitive people or people being caregivers off. This seemed like more of a book about slow suicide than anything else, and the fact that the younger sister could not make consistent caregiver decisions.
My mom did not have developmental problems (she was a drinker), but in the end, she was no different than Ginny (Gin-Gin ).
Yes, this is a book about sisterly/caregiver relationships, but it took nearly the entire book for me to get the feeling that anyone was giving honest reactions. Yes, I realize that this is fiction, but for me, it just hit too close to home.
There were a couple of interesting twists at the end, but for some reason, this book didn't seem finished (If you know what I mean) to me.
All in all a good read but a mostly depressing one and no humor to be found.
*ARC supplied by the publisher Atria Books, the author, and NetGalley.
January 3, 2022
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. This was the first title to start off 2022, and I picked the perfect book. We are seeing more books with characters on the spectrum, but I haven't come across those with main characters who are developmentally disabled. This book is about three sisters, one of whom has many special needs. One sister is off, living her life on the west coast, but the other has to, in the middle of a divorce, find care for her sister, ensure she is doing well, and continue their relationship. This book is funny, heartwarming, and real. I loved it.
September 12, 2022
In her debut, Zusy explored family dynamics and the ups and downs of being a caregiver. As I read this book, I couldn’t help but think of my aunt who spent her life caring for two children with intellectual disabilities. In fact, Ginny reminded me a lot of my cousin Theresa. She could be difficult and constantly tried to work around my aunt’s rules, but I also have fond memories of her and the love my aunt shared with her.
The strength of this story was that Zusy was able to show me both sides so well. Ginny was a diabetic who almost died of sepsis but was quite unwilling to alter her diet. Maggie was on the brink of giving up, time and time again, but then she would reflect on her childhood memories of Ginny and how much joy Ginny brought to her life. I also thought the exploration of caring for an adult sibling was interesting, in that Maggie grew to recognize and respect her sister’s autonomy. I imagine that can be really challenging given the situation, but such an important thing to consider.
The beauty of this story was in all the relationships, but especially in recognizing that Ginny enriched the lives of all those around her. Through the laughter, the tears, and the frustrations experienced by everyone, it was easy to see how much they brought to each other lives, and I was happy to be a part of this journey.
*ARC provided by publisher
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
The strength of this story was that Zusy was able to show me both sides so well. Ginny was a diabetic who almost died of sepsis but was quite unwilling to alter her diet. Maggie was on the brink of giving up, time and time again, but then she would reflect on her childhood memories of Ginny and how much joy Ginny brought to her life. I also thought the exploration of caring for an adult sibling was interesting, in that Maggie grew to recognize and respect her sister’s autonomy. I imagine that can be really challenging given the situation, but such an important thing to consider.
The beauty of this story was in all the relationships, but especially in recognizing that Ginny enriched the lives of all those around her. Through the laughter, the tears, and the frustrations experienced by everyone, it was easy to see how much they brought to each other lives, and I was happy to be a part of this journey.
*ARC provided by publisher
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
August 17, 2022
I am the older sibling to a brother who has special needs, and given this personal connection to the story, I was very excited to read it. Unfortunately, this one did not deliver in the ways I had hoped. Perhaps it tapped into my own worries about the reality that I will one day be financially, medically, and emotionally responsible for him, but this was not my favorite portrayal of life as a sibling. That said, it did have some realistic moments--particularly the struggles of trying to provide your sibling with agency and autonomy, while also acknowledging that they may not be capable of making all life-related decisions on their own. Maggie's overwhelming life, in turn, made me very overwhelmed and tainted my overall experience of this book.
November 4, 2022
Couldn’t finish. I was annoyed at the author’s unnecessarily negative portrayal of a person with a disability. You can tell a story about an overwhelmed caregiver without being so disrespectful of a person needing care. Moving on.
September 26, 2022
This was a heartfelt and darkly humorous book about the bonds of sisterhood and the ways mistakes from the past can haunt us.
Youngest sister Maggie gets called when her middle sister Ginny, who has diabetes and intellectual disabilities, overdoses on sugar and needs assistance. Forced into a caretaker role, Maggie has to try to make her sister give up sugar and not scare off her aides.
I really enjoyed the look at how hard life as a caretaker can be while also showing that people with disabilities have needs and desires in their own right. Ginny fights for her independence, secretly ordering sweets on Amazon and hiding a porn addiction.
The disability rep was really well done here and I enjoyed the audiobook narration by Gabra Zackman. Recommended for fans One two three by Laurie Frankel or Consent by Annabel Lyon. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Youngest sister Maggie gets called when her middle sister Ginny, who has diabetes and intellectual disabilities, overdoses on sugar and needs assistance. Forced into a caretaker role, Maggie has to try to make her sister give up sugar and not scare off her aides.
I really enjoyed the look at how hard life as a caretaker can be while also showing that people with disabilities have needs and desires in their own right. Ginny fights for her independence, secretly ordering sweets on Amazon and hiding a porn addiction.
The disability rep was really well done here and I enjoyed the audiobook narration by Gabra Zackman. Recommended for fans One two three by Laurie Frankel or Consent by Annabel Lyon. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
July 24, 2024
3.5 rounded up💫 another book checked of my must read in 2024 list✔️
✨the incredibly difficult responsibility it is and toll the role of being a caretaker for someone with special needs takes
✨3 sisters, 2 dogs, a couple quirky foreign live-in aids
✨dark humor, dark moments, but also some levity and hope
✨family dynamics - not just between sisters but also teenage sons and a broken marriage
✨stream of consciousness
✨no chapters! only separated by 4 parts
I really liked the idea of this book, especially because the author pulled from her real life, but didn’t love the execution. The writing style made it hard to connect with any character besides Maggie which made it hard to really love.
✨the incredibly difficult responsibility it is and toll the role of being a caretaker for someone with special needs takes
✨3 sisters, 2 dogs, a couple quirky foreign live-in aids
✨dark humor, dark moments, but also some levity and hope
✨family dynamics - not just between sisters but also teenage sons and a broken marriage
✨stream of consciousness
✨no chapters! only separated by 4 parts
I really liked the idea of this book, especially because the author pulled from her real life, but didn’t love the execution. The writing style made it hard to connect with any character besides Maggie which made it hard to really love.
January 9, 2023
Really enjoyed this debut!!
Maggie becomes the caregiver for her sister Ginny after Ginny can not take care of herself and continues to fire her caregivers. Ginny is diabetic but makes very bad food choices!! The oldest sister, Betsy, lives in CA and tends to be very distant from her sisters and they are not sure why!!
This book explores family, taking care of a sibling, separation, secrets and so much more!! I was not sure at many times who was taking care of who!!!
Highly recommend this debut if you like family stories with lots of different storylines!!
Maggie becomes the caregiver for her sister Ginny after Ginny can not take care of herself and continues to fire her caregivers. Ginny is diabetic but makes very bad food choices!! The oldest sister, Betsy, lives in CA and tends to be very distant from her sisters and they are not sure why!!
This book explores family, taking care of a sibling, separation, secrets and so much more!! I was not sure at many times who was taking care of who!!!
Highly recommend this debut if you like family stories with lots of different storylines!!
July 6, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ For a reader who has the experience of being a caregiver, this would be a compelling story. I wish that Maggie would have found more of a community and/or professional help beyond her family as the support she desperately needed. Kept my attention but likely won’t think about this book again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2025
I loved this so much. 5/5 I cried many times. I’ve never related so much to a book, and I went in blind on this one. Loved it.
September 24, 2022
I was immediately sold on this book when I read that it was 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘖𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘐𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘦 meets 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘎𝘰, 𝘉𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦. I love a heartwarming story filled with quirky characters, and this one fits the bill perfectly. I laughed heartily, and I cried real tears. ❤️🩹
This book is for:
✨Sisters
✨Anyone who has loved a pet
✨Women experiencing middle age
✨Anyone who has been a caretaker of an adult – whether as a family member or as your occupation
✨Moms who have parented teens and young adults
✨Anyone who loves someone with intellectual disabilities
✨Anyone who knows the ups and down and highs and lows of a long marriage
✨Anyone who has a heart.
There are so many layers to this book which readers will relate to. For me, what resonated with me so profoundly was the motherhood aspect. In particular:
✨The bittersweet joy and pain of being a parent to grown and almost grown children are beautifully depicted here. The remembering and the holding on and the letting go and the moving on are all found on these pages.
✨The portrayal of the seasons in a mother’s life was masterfully written, and I felt every word.
This is an easy one for me to recommend. You absolutely must read this refreshingly original, adorably quirky, and beautifully heartwarming book. It will definitely make it into my best of 2022 list.
My thanks to @atriabooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. And thank you so much, @jeannie_zusy, for this magnificent book. I will treasure it!
This book is for:
✨Sisters
✨Anyone who has loved a pet
✨Women experiencing middle age
✨Anyone who has been a caretaker of an adult – whether as a family member or as your occupation
✨Moms who have parented teens and young adults
✨Anyone who loves someone with intellectual disabilities
✨Anyone who knows the ups and down and highs and lows of a long marriage
✨Anyone who has a heart.
There are so many layers to this book which readers will relate to. For me, what resonated with me so profoundly was the motherhood aspect. In particular:
✨The bittersweet joy and pain of being a parent to grown and almost grown children are beautifully depicted here. The remembering and the holding on and the letting go and the moving on are all found on these pages.
✨The portrayal of the seasons in a mother’s life was masterfully written, and I felt every word.
This is an easy one for me to recommend. You absolutely must read this refreshingly original, adorably quirky, and beautifully heartwarming book. It will definitely make it into my best of 2022 list.
My thanks to @atriabooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. And thank you so much, @jeannie_zusy, for this magnificent book. I will treasure it!
February 25, 2023
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I might. It follows the relationship of three sisters, one of whom is a diabetic with special needs. The challenges the three have with each other, their pets, caregivers, and loved ones make for a light-hearted but meaningful story.
October 1, 2022
(2.5) The topics covered in this book? I’ve lived them. The conversations? I’ve had them. Every frustration? I’ve experienced them. And that, I think, hampered my enjoyment of this book.
I like that Jeannie Zusy used personal experience as a caregiver to her brother Davie to give life to such a complex topic, because she does a phenomenal job of illustrating the highs and the lows (and everything in between) of caring for a family member. It’s often a hard topic to talk about, but Zusy infuses this book with the love and anger I think is true to so many of these situations (mine included).
My issue was really related to the writing style of the book. Two pages in, I already knew I wasn’t going to vibe with the tone of the book, and I wasn’t wrong. I found it too chatty and conversational — in an almost forced way — and the stream-of-consciousness style really presented me from connecting with our main character, Maggie. Plus, some of the phrasing just didn’t feel natural (a character described memory as “a meany,” which, just… no.) Other reviewers have called this book “funny,” but I don’t think I laughed — or even smiled — once while reading it. The stream-of-consciousness writing also meant the timeline felt chaotic as we were bouncing from event to event in the space of a few pages. I get that doing so was intended to break up the flow storyline, but the past never added the emotional depth it needed to.
The characters are interesting, especially because of their flaws, but none of them were particularly likable. I don’t think characters need to be likable (especially female characters), but I think there needs to be a reason you’re rooting for them. Maggie is a cheater who maybe drinks too much (and drives drunk) and is super judgmental and harried. None of her positive traits — her kindness, her understanding, her mothering abilities, her skill at her job, etc. — feel evenly balanced with her negative traits. The sister Maggie is taking care of (Ginny) is also never really given much understanding — instead, so much space is dedicated to her slovenliness, her bad grooming, her refusal to stop eating sugar even though it will kill her. And the oldest sister, Betsy, has just peaced out of this whole situation with a mentality of “let someone else take care of her” and “if she keeps doing this and dies, she dies,” and there isn’t a reason for Bets’ cold heart until deep into the book.
Heaven knows caregiving takes an epic toll on families. And I like the fact that Zusy didn’t try to gloss over the situation and make everyone involved into saints who have never done anything wrong in their entire lives. But there was so much frustration in this book that it outweighed the heartwarming moments.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I like that Jeannie Zusy used personal experience as a caregiver to her brother Davie to give life to such a complex topic, because she does a phenomenal job of illustrating the highs and the lows (and everything in between) of caring for a family member. It’s often a hard topic to talk about, but Zusy infuses this book with the love and anger I think is true to so many of these situations (mine included).
My issue was really related to the writing style of the book. Two pages in, I already knew I wasn’t going to vibe with the tone of the book, and I wasn’t wrong. I found it too chatty and conversational — in an almost forced way — and the stream-of-consciousness style really presented me from connecting with our main character, Maggie. Plus, some of the phrasing just didn’t feel natural (a character described memory as “a meany,” which, just… no.) Other reviewers have called this book “funny,” but I don’t think I laughed — or even smiled — once while reading it. The stream-of-consciousness writing also meant the timeline felt chaotic as we were bouncing from event to event in the space of a few pages. I get that doing so was intended to break up the flow storyline, but the past never added the emotional depth it needed to.
The characters are interesting, especially because of their flaws, but none of them were particularly likable. I don’t think characters need to be likable (especially female characters), but I think there needs to be a reason you’re rooting for them. Maggie is a cheater who maybe drinks too much (and drives drunk) and is super judgmental and harried. None of her positive traits — her kindness, her understanding, her mothering abilities, her skill at her job, etc. — feel evenly balanced with her negative traits. The sister Maggie is taking care of (Ginny) is also never really given much understanding — instead, so much space is dedicated to her slovenliness, her bad grooming, her refusal to stop eating sugar even though it will kill her. And the oldest sister, Betsy, has just peaced out of this whole situation with a mentality of “let someone else take care of her” and “if she keeps doing this and dies, she dies,” and there isn’t a reason for Bets’ cold heart until deep into the book.
Heaven knows caregiving takes an epic toll on families. And I like the fact that Zusy didn’t try to gloss over the situation and make everyone involved into saints who have never done anything wrong in their entire lives. But there was so much frustration in this book that it outweighed the heartwarming moments.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 21, 2022
The summary of this book says it all and I found it to be spot on accurate. It truly was funny yet moving, and I love the focus on family dynamics and relationships. I adore Ginny. I love how she is straightforward and frank, and combined with her quirky likes and addictions, she is just so compelling to read about. She made me chuckle and I got such a kick out of her. The novel was not all humor, the frustrations that Maggie experienced was also a key focus, and it was easy to feel her emotions while reading about her new demands on top of everything else she had going on. I can see how being a caretaker for Ginny was frustrating at times, but the true bond between the sisters was evident, especially as the book progressed. I really enjoyed reading this one. It had a little bit of everything in it and was a very easy and quick read for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 456 reviews