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Only Sisters
One sister runs away and the other stays behind. But what happens when the dutiful sister has to impersonate the rebel? In her page-turning exploration of familial loyalty, resentment, secrets, and grief, Lilian Nattel explores the meaning and reach of family bonds.
Joan has always done the right thing, both as a palliative care doctor and as a caregiver for her widowed mother, Sheila. Joan’s adventurous sister, Vivien, is a different story. She left home as soon as she was able—running from an insecure childhood troubled by an alcoholic father and a mother who constantly threw away all their possessions in order to buy new ones. Vivien’s rarely been back, working as a nurse in the world’s trouble zones, leaving the heavy burden of family on her sister.
Still, when Vivien learns that their mother is seriously ill, she reaches out to Joan. She's heading for a remote village where Ebola is spreading, and she’s afraid she may die. If she does, she wants Joan to pose as her online so her dying mother won’t have to grieve a daughter. It’s a lie, but it’s the good kind of lie, designed to spare their mother, and so Joan reluctantly agrees, figuring it will never come to that.
But Vivien does die. And even as Joan mourns her sister, she begins to impersonate her online, as promised. It's difficult at first, but to her surprise, posing as Vivien becomes liberating, even addictive. Then she receives a message on her sister's Facebook from a man claiming to be the son Vivien gave up for adoption, and the line between right and wrong, adventure and tragedy, really begins to blur.
Joan has always done the right thing, both as a palliative care doctor and as a caregiver for her widowed mother, Sheila. Joan’s adventurous sister, Vivien, is a different story. She left home as soon as she was able—running from an insecure childhood troubled by an alcoholic father and a mother who constantly threw away all their possessions in order to buy new ones. Vivien’s rarely been back, working as a nurse in the world’s trouble zones, leaving the heavy burden of family on her sister.
Still, when Vivien learns that their mother is seriously ill, she reaches out to Joan. She's heading for a remote village where Ebola is spreading, and she’s afraid she may die. If she does, she wants Joan to pose as her online so her dying mother won’t have to grieve a daughter. It’s a lie, but it’s the good kind of lie, designed to spare their mother, and so Joan reluctantly agrees, figuring it will never come to that.
But Vivien does die. And even as Joan mourns her sister, she begins to impersonate her online, as promised. It's difficult at first, but to her surprise, posing as Vivien becomes liberating, even addictive. Then she receives a message on her sister's Facebook from a man claiming to be the son Vivien gave up for adoption, and the line between right and wrong, adventure and tragedy, really begins to blur.
336 pages, Paperback
Published August 2, 2022
7 people are currently reading
863 people want to read
About the author
Lilian Nattel
7 books134 followersLilian Nattel's 5th novel is Only Sisters, the story of a good woman whose life unravels with a single lie: posing as her rebel sister on social media to give her elderly mother peace of mind. Lilian's other novels are: Girl at the Edge of Sky, about a WW2 female fighter pilot; Web of Angels, which deals with D.I.D., The River Midnight, about life in a shtetl with angels in the 19th century; and The Singing Fire, where ghosts and immigrant mothers mingle. Lilian was born in Montreal and decided to be a writer at the age of 10 when she realized that not all writers were dead. Later, she lived in a Toronto garret and temporarily became an accountant to pay for the accommodation. Ever since the publication of The River Midnight, which was published in 8 languages, she's written full time.
For more about Lilian, visit her website .
For more about Lilian, visit her website .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
December 4, 2022
What I liked:
✔️exploration of family dynamics, sibling roles and family loyalty
✔️exploration of grief, secrets, resentment
✔️exploration of morality vs the greater good
✔️exploration of healthcare, death/dying and mental illness
✔️highlighting social media and its influence and the warnings
✔️secrets
✔️interesting characters
✔️exploration of how past influences our present and future
What I struggled with:
✔️plausibility
✔️connecting with characters
✔️sadness and anxiety that increased as I read
✔️multitude of triggers
I was gifted this copy by Penguin Random House Canada and was under no obligation to provide a review.
✔️exploration of family dynamics, sibling roles and family loyalty
✔️exploration of grief, secrets, resentment
✔️exploration of morality vs the greater good
✔️exploration of healthcare, death/dying and mental illness
✔️highlighting social media and its influence and the warnings
✔️secrets
✔️interesting characters
✔️exploration of how past influences our present and future
What I struggled with:
✔️plausibility
✔️connecting with characters
✔️sadness and anxiety that increased as I read
✔️multitude of triggers
I was gifted this copy by Penguin Random House Canada and was under no obligation to provide a review.
September 15, 2022
Interesting concept and good writing.
There is a lot of sadness in this book, especially around mental health.
Regardless, I was completely disconnected.
Not even the setting in Toronto, my hometown, helped to hold my interest.
The characters were interesting and relatable.
I do love a good family drama, but this story did not work for me, perhaps because I found a bit difficult to believe in the situation or perhaps there was something missing in the telling the story. Perhaps if it was written in third person I would have appreciated it more.
There is a lot of sadness in this book, especially around mental health.
Regardless, I was completely disconnected.
Not even the setting in Toronto, my hometown, helped to hold my interest.
The characters were interesting and relatable.
I do love a good family drama, but this story did not work for me, perhaps because I found a bit difficult to believe in the situation or perhaps there was something missing in the telling the story. Perhaps if it was written in third person I would have appreciated it more.
December 9, 2022
3.5 ⭐️rounded up (bcz it’s a debut).
Good family drama. It’s well written, but I found (maybe just for me) that the language was too dry. The novel more sounds like a memoir.
I liked the communications inside the family, the situation in the house was very disturbing . I feel so bad for the children which grew up in such conditions.
In some situations it was hardly to believe; I’m not sure if the author left intentionally something behind the scene, or it’s how the story was delivered. Was a lot of boring moments, some in the beginning, some at the end. After Joan’s parents died, especially her mother, all story went downhill.
Interesting characters, however I did not feel connections with them.
Good family drama. It’s well written, but I found (maybe just for me) that the language was too dry. The novel more sounds like a memoir.
I liked the communications inside the family, the situation in the house was very disturbing . I feel so bad for the children which grew up in such conditions.
In some situations it was hardly to believe; I’m not sure if the author left intentionally something behind the scene, or it’s how the story was delivered. Was a lot of boring moments, some in the beginning, some at the end. After Joan’s parents died, especially her mother, all story went downhill.
Interesting characters, however I did not feel connections with them.
November 25, 2022
An utterly immersive novel about the intertwining lives of two sisters: Joan is careful and the Vivian is larger than life. Joan's life is transformed when she has to fulfill her sister's dying request. The characters are so precisely real that the novel reads like a memoir. A beautiful book.
July 31, 2022
I wanted to love this book, I really did.
I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the situations in this novel. It just didn’t seem realistic to me and it wasn’t a situation where I could put myself in and wonder what I would do. I feel like it’s not a spoiler to say because the author writes this in the synopsis. Her sister dies and she lies to everyone and impersonates her online? Creepy. It just wasn’t for me unfortunately.
I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the situations in this novel. It just didn’t seem realistic to me and it wasn’t a situation where I could put myself in and wonder what I would do. I feel like it’s not a spoiler to say because the author writes this in the synopsis. Her sister dies and she lies to everyone and impersonates her online? Creepy. It just wasn’t for me unfortunately.
January 19, 2023
Lilian Nattel's latest novel is an engrossing page-turner about family secrets, medical ethics, lies and truth. When nurse Vivien Connor is assigned to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, she makes an unusual request of her sister Joan, who is a palliative care doctor. In the event of Vivien's death, Vivien asks Joan to pretend she is still alive to spare their aging mother the burden of grieving the death of a child. But, Vivien doesn't stop there. She also wants Joan to pretend she is alive to her online friends, and gives her passwords so Joan can answer texts and emails on Vivien's behalf as well as maintain her profiles on Facebook and Instagram.
When Vivien does die, Joan at first enjoys the freedom of pretending to be someone like her freer-spirited sister. But what should Joan do when the baby Vivien put up for adoption forty years ago contacts her through her dead sister's profile?
This book was a slow start for me, but once I got into the flow of the story, I found it hard to put down. For me, it was an ethically grey story and I loved that about it. I found myself wondering what I would do in Joan's position, and I still don't have any answers. I will say that I never lost sympathy for her or empathy for her actions, even as she came closer and closer and eventually crossed a line. As Joan works in palliative care, this also added depth and complexity to the story, as well as very timely discussions on medically-assisted death and the COVID pandemic. It is a shame that many Canadian books don't get distributed very widely, but here's hoping this one does well. Another great book from Lilian Nattel!
When Vivien does die, Joan at first enjoys the freedom of pretending to be someone like her freer-spirited sister. But what should Joan do when the baby Vivien put up for adoption forty years ago contacts her through her dead sister's profile?
This book was a slow start for me, but once I got into the flow of the story, I found it hard to put down. For me, it was an ethically grey story and I loved that about it. I found myself wondering what I would do in Joan's position, and I still don't have any answers. I will say that I never lost sympathy for her or empathy for her actions, even as she came closer and closer and eventually crossed a line. As Joan works in palliative care, this also added depth and complexity to the story, as well as very timely discussions on medically-assisted death and the COVID pandemic. It is a shame that many Canadian books don't get distributed very widely, but here's hoping this one does well. Another great book from Lilian Nattel!
August 29, 2022
Fluttering Fluffs! 😳😯🥺🤧
Ugh! My emotions are all over the place. Jiminy Cricket! This novel just yanked on my heart strings in so many ways! I couldn't get enough of this. It was poignant, beautiful, raw at times & also so heart warming, too. The dilemma of morals, love, family, right & wrong being blurred and not black and white, yet for the greater good and caring intentions for the other person. The ending was so satisfying and full circle! A few times I got choked up reading this and feeling the emotion in the characters. It was stunning to see what love can do, where it can go & how it flows like a stream, always bending and curving, never breaking or withholding. It was so moving, so touching that I adored every single character but especially Joan. Nattal knows how to write a novel that feels like a homemade quilt made with love, wrapped around you on a gloomy, cool day. Absolutely beautiful! Bonus? She's a Canadian author! Yes!
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Joan & Vivian are sisters and while they're both in the medical field, they couldn't be more different. Joan is a doctor dealing with palliative care patients in Toronto, while Vivian is a nurse in third world countries with the DRC. Because of Vivian's job, communication is scarce. When Joan contacts Vivian about the health of their Mother, Vivian informs Joan that she may die going to a village with an Ebola outbreak. So she asks for one favour... that Joan pose as Vivian through her social media platforms should she die, to spare their Mother. And while Joan reluctantly agrees, when it comes time to initiate it, the rabbit hole will claim her and end up with something she never expected in Vivian - & now her - inbox.
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊
Ugh! My emotions are all over the place. Jiminy Cricket! This novel just yanked on my heart strings in so many ways! I couldn't get enough of this. It was poignant, beautiful, raw at times & also so heart warming, too. The dilemma of morals, love, family, right & wrong being blurred and not black and white, yet for the greater good and caring intentions for the other person. The ending was so satisfying and full circle! A few times I got choked up reading this and feeling the emotion in the characters. It was stunning to see what love can do, where it can go & how it flows like a stream, always bending and curving, never breaking or withholding. It was so moving, so touching that I adored every single character but especially Joan. Nattal knows how to write a novel that feels like a homemade quilt made with love, wrapped around you on a gloomy, cool day. Absolutely beautiful! Bonus? She's a Canadian author! Yes!
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Joan & Vivian are sisters and while they're both in the medical field, they couldn't be more different. Joan is a doctor dealing with palliative care patients in Toronto, while Vivian is a nurse in third world countries with the DRC. Because of Vivian's job, communication is scarce. When Joan contacts Vivian about the health of their Mother, Vivian informs Joan that she may die going to a village with an Ebola outbreak. So she asks for one favour... that Joan pose as Vivian through her social media platforms should she die, to spare their Mother. And while Joan reluctantly agrees, when it comes time to initiate it, the rabbit hole will claim her and end up with something she never expected in Vivian - & now her - inbox.
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊
February 11, 2024
For some reason, it took me three tries to get into this book, but I'm glad I persisted! I'm always interested in stories about people who make what seem like innocuous choices, with the best of intentions, and those choices end up having significant repercussions. I enjoyed the character development in this book and the variety of themes it explored - sibling relationships and assumed roles, substance abuse, mental health, adoption, end of life care, and more. Worth the read!!
July 31, 2022
I throughly enjoyed this book.The fact that I grew up in Toronto the setting for this book made it extra special.The story line is about 2 sisters and the way they grew up and and decisions they made. I would highly recommend this book.
August 7, 2022
ONLY SISTERS is a complicated, and tough, look at family - loyalty, obligations, lies. Joan agrees to impersonate her sister, Vivien, after she dies, so their dying mother won't have to grieve the loss. Certain events lead to Joan falling into the role of Vivien maybe more that expected, and the choices, and lies, that follow are complex.
Overall, I really enjoyed the writing style and think this would make a great book for a bookclub.
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for the digital ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I really enjoyed the writing style and think this would make a great book for a bookclub.
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for the digital ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2022
Thanks NetGalley for this amazing read, the ARC of Only Sisters is fantastic by Lilian Nattel.
What a truly superb read, this book was so enjoyable, I loved the writing style the author uses and her introduction of characters is done well, I totally connected with the characters. This is a first read of her books for me but will be reading her others.
The story is of a sister who takes on her sister's online Facebook and Instagram accounts in order to carry on her identity, their mom is sick and Vivien makes her sister Joan promise not to let their mother know if something happens to Vivien. Joan is a palliative care doctor and does home visits, her sister Vivien works over Seas doing mission type work. The plan goes a little sideways when a son given up in adoption reaches put to Vivien with questions about his background. There is so much more woven into this story about human connections, love, life, sadness, death, happiness and more
I liked at the end of the book, Joan puts into perspective the value of objects that surround her, makes me remember/realize what is really important in life, family and friendship and so much more
I highly recommend this book! Very well done, a great read. Thank you for this novel.
What a truly superb read, this book was so enjoyable, I loved the writing style the author uses and her introduction of characters is done well, I totally connected with the characters. This is a first read of her books for me but will be reading her others.
The story is of a sister who takes on her sister's online Facebook and Instagram accounts in order to carry on her identity, their mom is sick and Vivien makes her sister Joan promise not to let their mother know if something happens to Vivien. Joan is a palliative care doctor and does home visits, her sister Vivien works over Seas doing mission type work. The plan goes a little sideways when a son given up in adoption reaches put to Vivien with questions about his background. There is so much more woven into this story about human connections, love, life, sadness, death, happiness and more
I liked at the end of the book, Joan puts into perspective the value of objects that surround her, makes me remember/realize what is really important in life, family and friendship and so much more
I highly recommend this book! Very well done, a great read. Thank you for this novel.
September 25, 2022
To be honest I was surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did, it's not something that I would normally read but I took a risk and did a book giveaway on Goodreads and I won this wonderful book and I'm glad that I took the chance. This book had me hooked, and made me a million different emotions in one chapter and that is a huge plus in my opinion. At times I was a little bit disappointed because it felt like the book was getting extremely boring and I took a few days to a week before I can get hooked again but that's how books are they're not always going to be gripping. But I love this book, I'll give it a three out of five stars ⭐⭐⭐
January 29, 2024
I think all the themes in this book were really well executed and I found myself quite emotional when the author described all the different family dynamics going on. There were so many intimate moments between the reader and her relationship with death, grief, loneliness and loss, I really enjoyed this book.
August 16, 2023
this book is different than most that I read! it was a beautiful story and I loved the ending🥹 made me emotional tbh. i had mixed feelings about the character Joan, but learned to really like her. i didn’t like Bruno for a long time either, but in the end he grew on me. the last page was so 😭🥺🥺🥺
August 23, 2023
loved that’s it’s based in Toronto, but the ending was a meh. it got better mid book and i felt like it could have dragged longer to know what happened to the characters.
August 22, 2022
What an intriguing premise. What a bore. Was not able to finish this. Abandoned at 70%.
October 18, 2022
I really enjoyed this book . I couldn’t put it down . It was very sad but still kept me wanting to read more. It made me wonder what my sister and i would do in the same situation.
August 21, 2023
A decent slow read coated in sadness.
Every page turned, every sentence read; there was an overall gloomy feeling attached to this book. The moments of joy for Joan and Vivian’s life were few and far between. I honestly felt like there wasn’t much that could go right from them. From family life as young sisters, the things they had to witness with mental and substance abuse were downright sad.
I was quite disconnected from the book at the beginning but about the 75% mark I got more and more into it. I wish there was more talk about Vivien and her side of things, but unfortunately being from the first person view point of Joan I understand why it would’ve been hard to throw in.
Overall 3*.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Every page turned, every sentence read; there was an overall gloomy feeling attached to this book. The moments of joy for Joan and Vivian’s life were few and far between. I honestly felt like there wasn’t much that could go right from them. From family life as young sisters, the things they had to witness with mental and substance abuse were downright sad.
I was quite disconnected from the book at the beginning but about the 75% mark I got more and more into it. I wish there was more talk about Vivien and her side of things, but unfortunately being from the first person view point of Joan I understand why it would’ve been hard to throw in.
Overall 3*.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2022
I was super lucky and got to read an advance copy of this book. I devoured it.
Family is hard but such a gift. This book captures the trials and tribulations as well as the incredible gifts of the family dynamic. And how it can look so incredibly different for everyone. At the end of the day we all want to be loved and connected.
Family is hard but such a gift. This book captures the trials and tribulations as well as the incredible gifts of the family dynamic. And how it can look so incredibly different for everyone. At the end of the day we all want to be loved and connected.
August 26, 2022
I went into this curious, it had been a NG recommends to me, and definitely piqued my interest from the synopsis. However I am not sure I was the right reader for it..
Spoilers ahead so don’t read if you want to go into it blind.
“Human beings can recover from a broken heart. They do it again and again”. And that about sums up the book for me. It was a broken family who hurt each other and themselves over and over again.
Two huge things I struggled with:
……..
First. I found it so creepy that Joan pretended to be her sister after death. Vivien had been overseas working with difft organizations like Doctors Without Borders and with a clear separation from her family back home. When Joan opens an email (not sure how you get death notices that way since there would be a body and regulations) that her sister has died. It’s that moment where Vivien’s grief gets morphed into becoming her sister in social media form. She pretends to converse with their mother (who has clear mental health issues), family friends and even reaches out to Vivien’s son Bruno who she gave up for adoption. Creepy and so wrong reading the conversation… even if i realize it’s fiction, I just hated those pieces of the storyline.
Second biggest thing for me was more about the way in which the whole narrative spoke about mental health. It’s clear that every single member of this family had their pain and issues, some manifesting in alcohol and some in control, but it felt to me as the reader that it was just a sad spotlight on one family’s pain. Mental health representation is so impt to be done well and this just felt flippant 😞 I was sad for all of them except Vivien who clearly traumatized by her family took over in an escape from them all.
If you read this, please go into it knowing the triggers because there are a lot of readers who will find these characterizations harmful.
The one redeeming part I liked for it became emotional was the part where Ruth and Joan were having a heart-to-heart. It’s why I ended with a 2 ⭐️
Ultimately it was a “not for me” book. But I do appreciate the chance to read it with a gifted copy.
Triggers: alcoholism, compulsive spartanism, verbal abuse, teenage pregnancy, adoption, racial discrimination on skin colouring, cancer, sexual assault, mental health, Covid
Spoilers ahead so don’t read if you want to go into it blind.
“Human beings can recover from a broken heart. They do it again and again”. And that about sums up the book for me. It was a broken family who hurt each other and themselves over and over again.
Two huge things I struggled with:
……..
First. I found it so creepy that Joan pretended to be her sister after death. Vivien had been overseas working with difft organizations like Doctors Without Borders and with a clear separation from her family back home. When Joan opens an email (not sure how you get death notices that way since there would be a body and regulations) that her sister has died. It’s that moment where Vivien’s grief gets morphed into becoming her sister in social media form. She pretends to converse with their mother (who has clear mental health issues), family friends and even reaches out to Vivien’s son Bruno who she gave up for adoption. Creepy and so wrong reading the conversation… even if i realize it’s fiction, I just hated those pieces of the storyline.
Second biggest thing for me was more about the way in which the whole narrative spoke about mental health. It’s clear that every single member of this family had their pain and issues, some manifesting in alcohol and some in control, but it felt to me as the reader that it was just a sad spotlight on one family’s pain. Mental health representation is so impt to be done well and this just felt flippant 😞 I was sad for all of them except Vivien who clearly traumatized by her family took over in an escape from them all.
If you read this, please go into it knowing the triggers because there are a lot of readers who will find these characterizations harmful.
The one redeeming part I liked for it became emotional was the part where Ruth and Joan were having a heart-to-heart. It’s why I ended with a 2 ⭐️
Ultimately it was a “not for me” book. But I do appreciate the chance to read it with a gifted copy.
Triggers: alcoholism, compulsive spartanism, verbal abuse, teenage pregnancy, adoption, racial discrimination on skin colouring, cancer, sexual assault, mental health, Covid
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2022
First, thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for my ARC. The review is strictly my own and unbiased .
Vivien and Joan are sisters, both in the medical field but continents apart.. Vivien is the adventurous one and left home as soon as it was possible, leaving Joan to the mundane every day life of living with and looking after their mother. Their father was an alcoholic and Sheila, their mother, constantly cleaned house and threw away everyone’s possessions only to go out and buy new ones. Now, Sheila is ill and Vivien can’t get home from Africa to see her as she’s heading to a village where Ebola is spreading like wildfire. Vivien talks to Joan and says because of treating the villagers with Ebola she runs the risk of dying, herself. Joan is asked by Vivien to pretend to be her on social media and in emails, if she passes, so that their mother won’t grieve for her daughter and will concentrate on keeping herself alive. Sadly, Vivien dies and Joan embarks on impersonating her sister. Difficult at first, because they were so different, she gradually warms to the role. All is going well until a man shows up on Facebook claiming to be the baby Vivien gave up for adoption when she was 16. From then on, the ruse becomes more difficult to uphold. Sheila becomes frail and Joan must continue her charade to help give her mother strength to continue living. The house of cards becomes a shaky one.
I loved this book. The characters were genuine and I felt they could be my next door neighbours. In these times, social media is the way of communicating with those you don’t/can’t see often. Perhaps there are a lot of folks on there who really aren’t who they say they are, like Joan. But family is everything in this book. And as it goes back and forth from Vivien and Joan’s childhoods to modern day, family is the constant, be it good or bad.
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. I’ll be checking out Lilian Nattel’s other books.
Vivien and Joan are sisters, both in the medical field but continents apart.. Vivien is the adventurous one and left home as soon as it was possible, leaving Joan to the mundane every day life of living with and looking after their mother. Their father was an alcoholic and Sheila, their mother, constantly cleaned house and threw away everyone’s possessions only to go out and buy new ones. Now, Sheila is ill and Vivien can’t get home from Africa to see her as she’s heading to a village where Ebola is spreading like wildfire. Vivien talks to Joan and says because of treating the villagers with Ebola she runs the risk of dying, herself. Joan is asked by Vivien to pretend to be her on social media and in emails, if she passes, so that their mother won’t grieve for her daughter and will concentrate on keeping herself alive. Sadly, Vivien dies and Joan embarks on impersonating her sister. Difficult at first, because they were so different, she gradually warms to the role. All is going well until a man shows up on Facebook claiming to be the baby Vivien gave up for adoption when she was 16. From then on, the ruse becomes more difficult to uphold. Sheila becomes frail and Joan must continue her charade to help give her mother strength to continue living. The house of cards becomes a shaky one.
I loved this book. The characters were genuine and I felt they could be my next door neighbours. In these times, social media is the way of communicating with those you don’t/can’t see often. Perhaps there are a lot of folks on there who really aren’t who they say they are, like Joan. But family is everything in this book. And as it goes back and forth from Vivien and Joan’s childhoods to modern day, family is the constant, be it good or bad.
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. I’ll be checking out Lilian Nattel’s other books.
November 13, 2022
This book was fiction however the way that the author wrote it had it reading more like a memoir. This left me really shocked and pleasantly surprised at the same time. This was a fairly short read however it really drew me in as a reader. This book is all about our main character Joan who is left caring for her aging and dying mother while her sister Vivian is working with doctors without borders in Africa. One day Vivian asks her sister to become her if anything were to happen to her and Joan reluctantly agrees thinking nothing of it. When the unthinkable happens and Joan actually has to keep her promise is when the book really starts to catch fire.
I thought that the switching was really strange especially since the person they wanted to fool was their mother. Shouldn't their mother be able to tell her daughters apart? However this made it to be a very compelling story. I loved the twists in this book but what I loved the most was how the author was able to show the reader how the relationship was strained but still full of love between both sisters it made it more realistic for the reader. The two sisters in this story couldn't be more different but each tried their best in their own way even if the other one didn't see it. The book jumps a little bit between when both girls were young and shows their relationship and what brought them each to where they were in the present day. While I don't normally like time jumps in my novels I understand completely what it was necessary in this case and I can't imagine it written any other way. I was surprised that this book wasn't a bit more dark considering the plot, however the lightness of it made it easier to get lost in. This book had lots of family struggles that made you empathize with both sisters. Very good read this is one that will tug at your heart and leave you thinking about it long after it is done.
I thought that the switching was really strange especially since the person they wanted to fool was their mother. Shouldn't their mother be able to tell her daughters apart? However this made it to be a very compelling story. I loved the twists in this book but what I loved the most was how the author was able to show the reader how the relationship was strained but still full of love between both sisters it made it more realistic for the reader. The two sisters in this story couldn't be more different but each tried their best in their own way even if the other one didn't see it. The book jumps a little bit between when both girls were young and shows their relationship and what brought them each to where they were in the present day. While I don't normally like time jumps in my novels I understand completely what it was necessary in this case and I can't imagine it written any other way. I was surprised that this book wasn't a bit more dark considering the plot, however the lightness of it made it easier to get lost in. This book had lots of family struggles that made you empathize with both sisters. Very good read this is one that will tug at your heart and leave you thinking about it long after it is done.
October 26, 2022
This is a novel about grief; not just grieving death, but grieving the past, grieving failed relationships, and grieving “what could have been “.
Our main character Joan is a middle-aged palliative care doctor who gently and respectfully helps the critically ill navigate their remaining months on earth. However, When her mother Sheila becomes ill, Joan finds it difficult to not only help her mother find peace but also difficult to reconcile with her past.
Early in the novel, Joan’s sister Vivan ( a nurse working with Doctors without Boarders) Skypes to tell her that she is going to a remote village to help with the Ebola crisis. Vivian requests that if anything happens to her, Joan is to take on her persona and continue communicating with their mother via text and messenger until Sheila dies, thus sparing her the heartache of losing a daughter in her final days.
Yes, soon Joan gets word that Vivian does indeed die, leaving Joan's responsibility of helping her mother come to peace with both her daughters.
This novel obviously does deal a lot with death and dying, not exactly light reading fare. But it also deals with love and hope and the strength that comes with facing your truth.
Our main character Joan is a middle-aged palliative care doctor who gently and respectfully helps the critically ill navigate their remaining months on earth. However, When her mother Sheila becomes ill, Joan finds it difficult to not only help her mother find peace but also difficult to reconcile with her past.
Early in the novel, Joan’s sister Vivan ( a nurse working with Doctors without Boarders) Skypes to tell her that she is going to a remote village to help with the Ebola crisis. Vivian requests that if anything happens to her, Joan is to take on her persona and continue communicating with their mother via text and messenger until Sheila dies, thus sparing her the heartache of losing a daughter in her final days.
Yes, soon Joan gets word that Vivian does indeed die, leaving Joan's responsibility of helping her mother come to peace with both her daughters.
This novel obviously does deal a lot with death and dying, not exactly light reading fare. But it also deals with love and hope and the strength that comes with facing your truth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2023
This was a good book. It rang a lot of bells for me. The estrangement of a sibling. Dealing with an aging, difficult parent with OCD tendencies. Wanting to be kind and yet feeling endlessly exasperated. And wanting, probably unrealistically, to do the 'decent' thing to all concerned. I'm not sure I believed that the main character, Joan, would continue her deceit for such a long time, but I understand her getting satisfaction at slipping into her sister's personna, i.e., inhabiting the one that "got away." Nattel certainly understands that dynamic - the sibling that gets cast as the fixer, the carer, vs. the renegade that breaks away from the crazies to forge a dynamic, independent existence elsewhere. Whether it's true or not, the carer always feels like the less desirable child. I also enjoyed her account of palliative care, which has played a huge role in my life. She's captured that very accurately, and with empathy. This book came at a good time and explored some important issues I am grappling with. The conclusion felt right - one loses family but if one is fortunate, one erects a new and perhaps even richer family with persons left behind. With the people who are as able and willing to give and care as you are. Thank you Ms. Nattel.
April 17, 2025
i was definitely intrigued by the summary on the back of the book and thought it was so interesting. nattel's story is unique and i haven't seen anything like this on the shelves.
unfortunately, i felt like this book started out really strong, and then kind of fell off. the protagonist seems like a teenager trapped in an adult's body and i felt super disconnected from her. i liked the conversations about her childhood, especially the ones about her mother's mental health. her mother's mental health issues aren't regularly shown in media and i was incredibly interested in her story. i think it was the strongest aspect of this novel.
i think that joan -- the protagonist -- went too far and i began to strongly dislike her. i disliked her in a way that made me want to put the book down .. not in a way that you are challenged by an unreliable or unlikeable narrator. her interactions i feel like once joan was honest about what she was doing, the novel kind of hit a standstill. there was no where to move forward anymore because it seemed like joan didn't really learn her lesson.
i would definitely read another one of nattel's novels, but this particular book didn't resonate or connect with me at all.
unfortunately, i felt like this book started out really strong, and then kind of fell off. the protagonist seems like a teenager trapped in an adult's body and i felt super disconnected from her. i liked the conversations about her childhood, especially the ones about her mother's mental health. her mother's mental health issues aren't regularly shown in media and i was incredibly interested in her story. i think it was the strongest aspect of this novel.
i think that joan -- the protagonist -- went too far and i began to strongly dislike her. i disliked her in a way that made me want to put the book down .. not in a way that you are challenged by an unreliable or unlikeable narrator. her interactions i feel like once joan was honest about what she was doing, the novel kind of hit a standstill. there was no where to move forward anymore because it seemed like joan didn't really learn her lesson.
i would definitely read another one of nattel's novels, but this particular book didn't resonate or connect with me at all.
August 19, 2022
Sisters - Joan and Vivien are two very different women.
Joan stayed home, looked after her mother, got a job as a palliative care doctor., spent her life taking care of other people.
Vivien also took care of people, but she did it as far away from home as she could, throwing herself in the line of danger, traveling to remote villages, never settling down.
When their mother falls ill, Vivien concocts a plan, that should anything happen to her, Joan would pretend to be her until after their mother has passed.
So because this would be a VERY short book otherwise, Vivien passes away and Joan takes on the roll of her sister.
I don't think there was one member in this family who did not suffer from unchecked and untreated mental illness and trauma, so that made this book quite intense and often hard to read.
There is a lot of sadness in this book, so be prepared for that.
Unfortunately for me I felt the sadness bogged this book down, I didn't think there was enough of a story to carry that weight and because of this I just felt anxious while I was reading it.
Maybe I was just in the wrong headspace for this, but I cant say this is a book I would recommend.
Joan stayed home, looked after her mother, got a job as a palliative care doctor., spent her life taking care of other people.
Vivien also took care of people, but she did it as far away from home as she could, throwing herself in the line of danger, traveling to remote villages, never settling down.
When their mother falls ill, Vivien concocts a plan, that should anything happen to her, Joan would pretend to be her until after their mother has passed.
So because this would be a VERY short book otherwise, Vivien passes away and Joan takes on the roll of her sister.
I don't think there was one member in this family who did not suffer from unchecked and untreated mental illness and trauma, so that made this book quite intense and often hard to read.
There is a lot of sadness in this book, so be prepared for that.
Unfortunately for me I felt the sadness bogged this book down, I didn't think there was enough of a story to carry that weight and because of this I just felt anxious while I was reading it.
Maybe I was just in the wrong headspace for this, but I cant say this is a book I would recommend.
May 26, 2023
What if you promised to impersonate a family member using social media after they had passed away? Sisters Joan and Vivian make a pact. Joan will continue Vivian’s life online to help their mother Sheila, cope with mental illness.
How long do you carry on the charade? Joan has always been the responsible one; working as a palliative doctor and also being a caregiver to their mother. Joan finds herself enjoying the escape in her sister’s adventurous life… until her double life catches up to her.
Always a fan of family drama stories with complex characters, I was left wanting more of Only Sisters. The book’s premise mixed in with the pandemic and social media diverted the focus from the impact of mental illness, death and family loyalty.
Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with an e-ARC of this via Netgalley.
How long do you carry on the charade? Joan has always been the responsible one; working as a palliative doctor and also being a caregiver to their mother. Joan finds herself enjoying the escape in her sister’s adventurous life… until her double life catches up to her.
Always a fan of family drama stories with complex characters, I was left wanting more of Only Sisters. The book’s premise mixed in with the pandemic and social media diverted the focus from the impact of mental illness, death and family loyalty.
Thanks to Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with an e-ARC of this via Netgalley.
September 1, 2022
This wonderful novel is about sisters, families, and illness. Joan and Vivian grow up in a dysfunctional home - their father is an alcoholic and their mother suffers from a form of OCD. After Vivian gets pregnant at 17 and gives up her son for adoption, things are never the same. Vivian becomes a nurse working in Africa; Joan becomes a doctor eventually working in palliative care. After the death of their father, Joan gives up her relationship to care for their mother. When Vivian is heading to a village off the grid with an Ebola outbreak, she sends Joan all her social media accounts and passwords, asking her to become her if anything happens to avoid upsetting their mother. Vivian dies of sepsis. As Joan learns how to use social media she meets many if Vivian's friends as well as Bruno, the son she gave up for adoption. Becoming part of Bruno's extended family has pluses and minuses. Wonderfully written, I loved the characters in this book.
September 25, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this title, as indeed I expected I would. It has an interesting premise, good character development and a hopeful ending. I’d also add that it is firmly rooted in an identifiable Toronto.
The author does an excellent job of exploring some very complicated family dynamics - the various relationships between the parents and the children, and between the sisters themselves. She also manages to weave in - without artifice - social commentary on broader issues, from digital communications and social media to global disparities in access to basic health care and neglected diseases.
I’m being purposefully ‘vague’ here - consciously trying to prevent spoilers - even though we know from the outset that Vivien is, obviously, going to die.
I do especially appreciate the research behind the book and applaud the way in which she portrays the practice of palliative care - she presents it perfectly.
Definitely a recommended read.
The author does an excellent job of exploring some very complicated family dynamics - the various relationships between the parents and the children, and between the sisters themselves. She also manages to weave in - without artifice - social commentary on broader issues, from digital communications and social media to global disparities in access to basic health care and neglected diseases.
I’m being purposefully ‘vague’ here - consciously trying to prevent spoilers - even though we know from the outset that Vivien is, obviously, going to die.
I do especially appreciate the research behind the book and applaud the way in which she portrays the practice of palliative care - she presents it perfectly.
Definitely a recommended read.
January 2, 2023
Two sisters who have very different personalities living with parents who cannot be relied on. The father often passed out drunk and the mother an obsessive unpredictable Mom. But the story really takes off when the older sister Vivien gets pregnant. The younger sister Joan ends up delivering the baby! Vivien takes off after giving her baby up but ends up coming back home as she wants to become a nurse to be able to go abroad with Doctors Without Borders. Joan also a nurse, takes up palliative care.
I felt the story was almost as much about palliative care as it was about the sisters. A well written book, although at times I felt the story got off the track and I had to struggle with the authors train of thoughts and why she described what she did.
There is much sadness, some joy and lots of family dynamics to deal with. Also some deceit. Can a lie be good if it is made with the best intentions? A question to ponder. A good book to read.
I felt the story was almost as much about palliative care as it was about the sisters. A well written book, although at times I felt the story got off the track and I had to struggle with the authors train of thoughts and why she described what she did.
There is much sadness, some joy and lots of family dynamics to deal with. Also some deceit. Can a lie be good if it is made with the best intentions? A question to ponder. A good book to read.
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