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A Sister's Gift
Two sisters. Best of friends. Worst of enemies. Hollie Hudson and her husband Richard are fast losing hope…Despite her infertility, Hollie is unable to give up her dream of having her own family and so calls on her last chance - her wayward half-sister. 24-year-old blonde bombshell Scarlett is the antithesis of her darker, more reserved older sister and capable of giving Hollie the miracle she so desperately desires.Having single-handedly bought Scarlett up after their runaway mother abandoned them, Scarlett knows she owes Hollie everything - and now it's time to pay her back with the ultimate gift…After a number of unsuccessful IVF attempts, the doctor advises that Scarlett and Richard try the natural method to conceive. Scarlett hides her delight as she has always harboured a secret crush on Richard, and Hollie is desperate to try anything. However Richard baulks at the idea, realising the problems it will cause later on…While Hollie is delighted when Scarlet later falls pregnant, little does she know that she may be bringing a child into a shattered family which harbours secrets and dangerous desires.Find out more in this mesmerising and heartbreaking tale from a stunning British talent about sacrifice, sisterhood and the ultimate gift.
409 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
March 21, 2010
I picked this up on a featured display table in the library feeling quite intrigued by the story. Funny how a book can change your emotions quickly as you flip the pages of "A Sister's Gift".
The good thing is that Giselle has a good sense of understanding the art of writing character development. She managed to change my opinions about the two sister's intention of using each other to get what they want easily like the rate of a heartbeat displayed on the heart monitor machine in hospitals. I find myself feeling sympathetic towards the older sister who can't give birth and yet as it progresses, I get really annoyed by her desperate ways of wanting a child badly despite having a caring and loving husband who have to put up with her selfish nonsense all the time, until desperation drove her to a point where she made a VERY silly mistake. The pretension love that existed between her and her younger sister (Scarlett) was unbearable to read because there was absolutely no sisterly bond between them. Except they had play along with the pretense hoping something in return. Initially I did like Scarlett's way of thinking about life and how fearless she feels about living it. Only after chapters that a change of side resulted in me being disgusted with what Scarlett did in the past and how selfish she has been towards her sister all this time. To sum up about the characters, both showed they own side of being, "Heartless and single-minded" in the story.
A Sister's Gift is fairly a good write up about character development and a complex view of past secrets on sister relationship. Similar to Kim Edwards and Jodi Picoult, only that I feel it's not one dimensional and not a drag to read to get to the point.
The good thing is that Giselle has a good sense of understanding the art of writing character development. She managed to change my opinions about the two sister's intention of using each other to get what they want easily like the rate of a heartbeat displayed on the heart monitor machine in hospitals. I find myself feeling sympathetic towards the older sister who can't give birth and yet as it progresses, I get really annoyed by her desperate ways of wanting a child badly despite having a caring and loving husband who have to put up with her selfish nonsense all the time, until desperation drove her to a point where she made a VERY silly mistake. The pretension love that existed between her and her younger sister (Scarlett) was unbearable to read because there was absolutely no sisterly bond between them. Except they had play along with the pretense hoping something in return. Initially I did like Scarlett's way of thinking about life and how fearless she feels about living it. Only after chapters that a change of side resulted in me being disgusted with what Scarlett did in the past and how selfish she has been towards her sister all this time. To sum up about the characters, both showed they own side of being, "Heartless and single-minded" in the story.
A Sister's Gift is fairly a good write up about character development and a complex view of past secrets on sister relationship. Similar to Kim Edwards and Jodi Picoult, only that I feel it's not one dimensional and not a drag to read to get to the point.
March 25, 2015
Un-fucking-satisfying!
August 9, 2012
Hollie is married to the very likeable Richard, but is unable to conceive. In her thirties, and increasingly desperate, she starts to consider surrogacy.
Scarlett, Hollie's younger sister, is apparently quite a contrast. She is not interested in commitment or even living in England, but at the start of the book is involved in a project to save part of the Amazon rainforest, passionate about the people she meets and the plants she is collecting.
Then Scarlett has to return to the UK for a while, and Hollie asks her if she would consider being a surrogate mother. Scarlett agrees, seeing this as a bargaining ploy and hoping she can raise funds for her project.
Hollie and Scarlett have a hot/cold relationship; eight years apart, Hollie saw herself more as Scarlett's mother than her sister, at times. Their mother Helen was a botanist who spent most of her time abroad, and they were brought up by Flo, Helen's best friend. Hollie and Rich live in what was Flo's home and Hollie is extremely attached to it.
This is a very intense book, that made me feel quite drained at times. It's told alternately by Hollie and Scarlett, a device that is very effective. The character development works well, gradually showing us that both sisters are complex, with mixed motives about all they do. Hollie's image as a caring homebody is tinged with some selfishness, leading her to make a remarkably stupid suggestion about half-way through the book. And Scarlett, who is more obviously self-centred, has plenty in her past to mitigate this, as well as her passion for the people whose lives are being destroyed by 'progress' in the rainforest.
It was a little slow to start, but I quickly became very involved in the story, and did not anticipate the various revelations that happened in the latter part of the book. I was rooting for a positive ending and was not disappointed, even if it was left a bit more open than I would have liked.
Possibly even four and a half stars. Definitely recommended.
Scarlett, Hollie's younger sister, is apparently quite a contrast. She is not interested in commitment or even living in England, but at the start of the book is involved in a project to save part of the Amazon rainforest, passionate about the people she meets and the plants she is collecting.
Then Scarlett has to return to the UK for a while, and Hollie asks her if she would consider being a surrogate mother. Scarlett agrees, seeing this as a bargaining ploy and hoping she can raise funds for her project.
Hollie and Scarlett have a hot/cold relationship; eight years apart, Hollie saw herself more as Scarlett's mother than her sister, at times. Their mother Helen was a botanist who spent most of her time abroad, and they were brought up by Flo, Helen's best friend. Hollie and Rich live in what was Flo's home and Hollie is extremely attached to it.
This is a very intense book, that made me feel quite drained at times. It's told alternately by Hollie and Scarlett, a device that is very effective. The character development works well, gradually showing us that both sisters are complex, with mixed motives about all they do. Hollie's image as a caring homebody is tinged with some selfishness, leading her to make a remarkably stupid suggestion about half-way through the book. And Scarlett, who is more obviously self-centred, has plenty in her past to mitigate this, as well as her passion for the people whose lives are being destroyed by 'progress' in the rainforest.
It was a little slow to start, but I quickly became very involved in the story, and did not anticipate the various revelations that happened in the latter part of the book. I was rooting for a positive ending and was not disappointed, even if it was left a bit more open than I would have liked.
Possibly even four and a half stars. Definitely recommended.
May 3, 2012
I was pulled towards this book from a personal perspective, having fertility issues myself and forever letting myself believe that one day something will happen to make it possible to add to my family.
It was very realistic that one sister, Hollie becomes so consumed by her desire to have a baby and everything in her life revolves around this.
I, however, found it a little less realistic that the other sister, Scarlett, is prepared make a deal over becoming a surrogate to try and blackmail her sister into selling the house she loves and using the money to go towards the crumbling efforts of the charity she is working for. Does this kind of things REALLY happen? Surely if somebody is so passionate about a charity, they also have hearts big enough for their family? hmmmm....
The underlying issues of Hollie's infertility being caused by her saving younger sister Scarlett from a violent boyfriend does not come up often but seemed (to me) to suddenly become a huge part of the story towards the end. I don't think it needed to be a big issue at that point - if it was a big issue it should have been more prominant throughout the whole story.
I also don't understand the reaction of Richard, Hollie's husband when he and Scarlett go through with what they have been asked to do (trying not put in a spioler here!) even after Scarlett's admits her true feelings to him. I did not like his character from this point onwards, especially because Hollie probably never really knew how he reacted.
The author was clever in making it very clear how Scarlett was good at using people to get what she wanted - tainting her character in a way but then also making the reader realise that actually even when people appear to be angelic, they can sometimes use people for what they desire without meaning to do so in this manner. It was interesting to be able to see Hollie from this perspective.
It was a good read but a frustrating ending as I'm sure you'll find when you read.... ;) (I hate storys where you don't find out what you really WANT to dine out happens!!!)
It was very realistic that one sister, Hollie becomes so consumed by her desire to have a baby and everything in her life revolves around this.
I, however, found it a little less realistic that the other sister, Scarlett, is prepared make a deal over becoming a surrogate to try and blackmail her sister into selling the house she loves and using the money to go towards the crumbling efforts of the charity she is working for. Does this kind of things REALLY happen? Surely if somebody is so passionate about a charity, they also have hearts big enough for their family? hmmmm....
The underlying issues of Hollie's infertility being caused by her saving younger sister Scarlett from a violent boyfriend does not come up often but seemed (to me) to suddenly become a huge part of the story towards the end. I don't think it needed to be a big issue at that point - if it was a big issue it should have been more prominant throughout the whole story.
I also don't understand the reaction of Richard, Hollie's husband when he and Scarlett go through with what they have been asked to do (trying not put in a spioler here!) even after Scarlett's admits her true feelings to him. I did not like his character from this point onwards, especially because Hollie probably never really knew how he reacted.
The author was clever in making it very clear how Scarlett was good at using people to get what she wanted - tainting her character in a way but then also making the reader realise that actually even when people appear to be angelic, they can sometimes use people for what they desire without meaning to do so in this manner. It was interesting to be able to see Hollie from this perspective.
It was a good read but a frustrating ending as I'm sure you'll find when you read.... ;) (I hate storys where you don't find out what you really WANT to dine out happens!!!)
November 14, 2014
This is yet another novel that I am split between a 3 and a 4....it wasn't an easy read...the first few chapters are little tough to go by if you don't really love bridges or plantation....told from three headers, the older sister Hollie, the younger Lettie...and a balloon...this one is an interesting read...
Interesting for it shows you the flaws in all of us, even the best...this isn't one book which just plays around with the fine line between right and wrong, it shows that the lines are crossed too...and its repercussions...I didn't think I will like it...but to be honest, mid way through; I let go off the plants and the bridges and got engrossed in the characters...each having their own 'human' thoughts...the mistake they kept doing one after another...and the realizations they made in between...
And I would always hold it against the author for not giving this book a proper ending...read it and you would know...it was a great read...but the ending, it just irritates...we read though 400 pages, we would have read another 50 easily!
But still, since its my first from the author, and I go easy on first reads...it settles for a 4...
Interesting for it shows you the flaws in all of us, even the best...this isn't one book which just plays around with the fine line between right and wrong, it shows that the lines are crossed too...and its repercussions...I didn't think I will like it...but to be honest, mid way through; I let go off the plants and the bridges and got engrossed in the characters...each having their own 'human' thoughts...the mistake they kept doing one after another...and the realizations they made in between...
And I would always hold it against the author for not giving this book a proper ending...read it and you would know...it was a great read...but the ending, it just irritates...we read though 400 pages, we would have read another 50 easily!
But still, since its my first from the author, and I go easy on first reads...it settles for a 4...
April 10, 2012
I enjoyed this, the fertility issues of Hollie were somethng I could relate to, and was intrigued about the concept of the headstrong sister helping Hollie through this. The story didn't evolve how I expected it to, but I really enjoyed all the different complexities of how it went on and was gripped to see how it would all end. I really liked seeing the perspectives of the story from Hollie and Scarlett in turn too. Will look out for Giselle Green and her future books.
July 3, 2010
I enjoyed this but I can't say it made me cry. I found both the sisters extremely selfish and very undeserving. I haven't read any of Giselle Green's books before and found her style very easy to get into. Whether I would classify her as the English Jodi Picoult is debatable as to me her style isn't remotely similar but I am far from an expert on these things.
August 13, 2014
Really did not enjoy this book and struggled to finish it. This was despite the fact that the first few chapters were good and Hollie lives in my area so I recognised lots of places.
Neither of the main characters is very likeable and the ending was very disappointing.
Neither of the main characters is very likeable and the ending was very disappointing.
February 4, 2010
Hollie Hudson is happily married to husband Richard but craves one thing desperately: a baby. It’s all she’s ever dreamed about since she was a little girl and the fact she’s incapable of having a baby is driving her to distraction. After happening upon a leaflet for a surrogate Hollie comes up with the answer to all of her problems: she’ll ask her sister Scarlett to be her surrogate. Scarlett, however, is nothing like homebody Hollie and has spent a couple of years in the Amazon rainforest desperate to come up with a solution to stop the rainforest being destroyed. Once PlanetLove, the organisation Scarlett works for, is taken over by a new group, Scarlett finds herself back in England to renew her visa and to try and raise money before heading back to Brazil. After Hollie asks Scarlett to be her surrogate, Scarlett realises she could raise the money she needs sooner than she thinks… Just how far will the two sisters go to realise their dreams?
After picking up Little Miracles by Giselle Green at the book swop one day I set about reading it and quckly fell in love with both the plot and the characters. It was a fantastic read and it intrigued me to read that on the cover of the book Giselle was referred to as the ‘English Jodi Picoult’. Little Miracles was quite like a Jodi Picoult book – it had the drama and intensity of a Picoult read and I went searching for other books by Giselle. Giselle herself sent me her first book – which I have yet to read – as well as her latest book A Sister’s Gift which I eagerly started.
A Sister’s Gift has a very Jodi Picoult-esque plot and the book is quite controversial which I’ll discuss more later. Like Little Miracles, A Sister’s Gift alternates first person perspective between both Hollie and Scarlett and, like the second book, it works. It gives us insight to what both Scarlett and Hollie are feeling at any given time and it’s so good to see the conflicting thoughts of both sisters. At the beginning of the book Hollie is at a charity event in which hundreds of red balloons are released, all bearing a message to any given person. We follow one of the red balloons throughout the book as it heads (or tries to head) towards Scarlett and that gives us our third perspective.
I have to admit that as the book wore on, I found myself getting very conflicted about what I thought about each of the characters. It’s incredibly easy to sympathise with Hollie at the beginning of the book and her desperation about not being able to conceive was hugely believable. However as her desperation spirals out of control it gets harder and harder to like her as her suggestions to Scarlett become more and more outrageous. She did still maintain my sympathy but for a while there she wasn’t very likable. As for Scarlett I think I liked her but most of the time I found she was hugely selfish in everything she does throughout the book. Everything she agrees to do is only on the stipulation that it helps her in some way and, to be honest, I found it hard to really really like her. Even Richard, Hollie’s husband, irritated me. I thought he was fantastic and hugely understanding through the first half of the book but one scene completely changed my mind about him. After that I just couldn’t let myself like him anymore. As far as characters go, they were the main three in the book and anyone else mentioned were only minor characters.
The real let down of what was, up until then, a fantastic book came about half way through and it really put me off. Hollie comes up with a crazy idea about how to conceive her dream baby and forces Richard to go along with it. The entire scene was completely off-putting and although it wasn’t essentially wrong, it all felt completely wrong and forced. I did wonder if I would manage to carry on with the book but after getting past the entire ugliness of it all I did find myself getting sucked back into the book. The main theme of the book seems to be the idea of what the word charity means. For me though, instead of feeling as everything that happens is charitable I thought it was more pure selfishness. Hollie wants Scarlett to have her baby and no matter how often she denies that she feels Scarlett owes her this, that is how it actually comes across. It does seem that Hollie believes Scarlett owes her this one favour and it smacks of selfishness. Yes, there are reasons behind it all but it’s still selfish. As for Scarlett agreeing to have the baby, the only reason she does this is so she can make Hollie sell the cottage they grew up in so she can help save the rain-forest. It seems that there is a thin line between charity and selfishness and I felt A Sister’s Gift came under the latter category.
For all the things I’ve complained about, I did enjoy the book hugely. The fact that I could debate so many different points throughout my review speaks of just how controversial and thought-provoking the book is. It was a fantastic read and I definitely found myself questioning just how far is too far. There were lots of mini plot lines running throughout the book as well as the surrogate storyline. Scarlett’s bid to try and save the rain-forest was fairly interesting and to learn what happened to Hollie years ago to make her unable to conceive a child took a while to come out but when it did, it was quite shocking. There was also the long-running unrequited love of Richard that Scarlett holds. It all ties together to make an absorbing read and I read it in two days. The ending, like Little Miracles, is hugely open – even more open than the ending of Little Miracles, actually. While I liked the openness of Little Miracles’s ending, I would have liked more from A Sister’s Gift. It all ends quite abruptly to leave me to make up my own mind on how it all works out in the end, but I’d have liked just a little bit more to help shape the ending. Whereas the ending of Little Miracles was perfect, A Sister’s Gift needed another chapter to tie things together a bit more.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading A Sister’s Gift. Giselle Green has opened herself up to a lot of debate/criticism over some of the things that happen in the book and although I didn’t agree with what was arguably the most controversial scene in the entire book, I did still find myself enjoying the book. It’s definitely a gripping book and although it is slightly similar to Jodi Picoult – the controversy and plot – it is also different – no court cases, for starters. I absolutely do recommend the book but I do attach a note of caution about the scene I mentioned above.
After picking up Little Miracles by Giselle Green at the book swop one day I set about reading it and quckly fell in love with both the plot and the characters. It was a fantastic read and it intrigued me to read that on the cover of the book Giselle was referred to as the ‘English Jodi Picoult’. Little Miracles was quite like a Jodi Picoult book – it had the drama and intensity of a Picoult read and I went searching for other books by Giselle. Giselle herself sent me her first book – which I have yet to read – as well as her latest book A Sister’s Gift which I eagerly started.
A Sister’s Gift has a very Jodi Picoult-esque plot and the book is quite controversial which I’ll discuss more later. Like Little Miracles, A Sister’s Gift alternates first person perspective between both Hollie and Scarlett and, like the second book, it works. It gives us insight to what both Scarlett and Hollie are feeling at any given time and it’s so good to see the conflicting thoughts of both sisters. At the beginning of the book Hollie is at a charity event in which hundreds of red balloons are released, all bearing a message to any given person. We follow one of the red balloons throughout the book as it heads (or tries to head) towards Scarlett and that gives us our third perspective.
I have to admit that as the book wore on, I found myself getting very conflicted about what I thought about each of the characters. It’s incredibly easy to sympathise with Hollie at the beginning of the book and her desperation about not being able to conceive was hugely believable. However as her desperation spirals out of control it gets harder and harder to like her as her suggestions to Scarlett become more and more outrageous. She did still maintain my sympathy but for a while there she wasn’t very likable. As for Scarlett I think I liked her but most of the time I found she was hugely selfish in everything she does throughout the book. Everything she agrees to do is only on the stipulation that it helps her in some way and, to be honest, I found it hard to really really like her. Even Richard, Hollie’s husband, irritated me. I thought he was fantastic and hugely understanding through the first half of the book but one scene completely changed my mind about him. After that I just couldn’t let myself like him anymore. As far as characters go, they were the main three in the book and anyone else mentioned were only minor characters.
The real let down of what was, up until then, a fantastic book came about half way through and it really put me off. Hollie comes up with a crazy idea about how to conceive her dream baby and forces Richard to go along with it. The entire scene was completely off-putting and although it wasn’t essentially wrong, it all felt completely wrong and forced. I did wonder if I would manage to carry on with the book but after getting past the entire ugliness of it all I did find myself getting sucked back into the book. The main theme of the book seems to be the idea of what the word charity means. For me though, instead of feeling as everything that happens is charitable I thought it was more pure selfishness. Hollie wants Scarlett to have her baby and no matter how often she denies that she feels Scarlett owes her this, that is how it actually comes across. It does seem that Hollie believes Scarlett owes her this one favour and it smacks of selfishness. Yes, there are reasons behind it all but it’s still selfish. As for Scarlett agreeing to have the baby, the only reason she does this is so she can make Hollie sell the cottage they grew up in so she can help save the rain-forest. It seems that there is a thin line between charity and selfishness and I felt A Sister’s Gift came under the latter category.
For all the things I’ve complained about, I did enjoy the book hugely. The fact that I could debate so many different points throughout my review speaks of just how controversial and thought-provoking the book is. It was a fantastic read and I definitely found myself questioning just how far is too far. There were lots of mini plot lines running throughout the book as well as the surrogate storyline. Scarlett’s bid to try and save the rain-forest was fairly interesting and to learn what happened to Hollie years ago to make her unable to conceive a child took a while to come out but when it did, it was quite shocking. There was also the long-running unrequited love of Richard that Scarlett holds. It all ties together to make an absorbing read and I read it in two days. The ending, like Little Miracles, is hugely open – even more open than the ending of Little Miracles, actually. While I liked the openness of Little Miracles’s ending, I would have liked more from A Sister’s Gift. It all ends quite abruptly to leave me to make up my own mind on how it all works out in the end, but I’d have liked just a little bit more to help shape the ending. Whereas the ending of Little Miracles was perfect, A Sister’s Gift needed another chapter to tie things together a bit more.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading A Sister’s Gift. Giselle Green has opened herself up to a lot of debate/criticism over some of the things that happen in the book and although I didn’t agree with what was arguably the most controversial scene in the entire book, I did still find myself enjoying the book. It’s definitely a gripping book and although it is slightly similar to Jodi Picoult – the controversy and plot – it is also different – no court cases, for starters. I absolutely do recommend the book but I do attach a note of caution about the scene I mentioned above.
August 7, 2013
In the pursuit of getting what you want in life - how far is too far? This is the sentiment that is embedded in this story. Hollie is married to Richard and she is desperate for a baby. As a last resort, she explores surrogacy and turns to her sister Scarlett for help. Scarlett agrees to be a surrogate mother for Hollie and Richard - for her own reasons - and things spiral out of control.
This book explores the complexities of relationships and the sacrifices made that shape them. It is told from both the point of views of both sisters and also a third, more obscure view of a wish balloon. I do understand why the author added this part, but, for me, it didn't really 'work'. There were just a little too many "odd" things about this story that prevents me from rating it higher than I have. The ending is far too open for my tastes ... and I often don't mind endings that are a bit open ended. This one doesn't really resolve the MAIN issue in the whole book!
This book explores the complexities of relationships and the sacrifices made that shape them. It is told from both the point of views of both sisters and also a third, more obscure view of a wish balloon. I do understand why the author added this part, but, for me, it didn't really 'work'. There were just a little too many "odd" things about this story that prevents me from rating it higher than I have. The ending is far too open for my tastes ... and I often don't mind endings that are a bit open ended. This one doesn't really resolve the MAIN issue in the whole book!
January 15, 2012
Whilst this story was not full of intricate story lines and unexpected twists and turns, it was still an attention grabbing interesting read. I found the ending was however somewhat abrupt and I would have liked some more resolution to it. There were parts of the book that were really gripping for me and I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next, but in other parts it felt like a lot of filling to pad out the story. The plot line was an interesting one to address and is full of emotive issues. I did enjoy this book and it is worth reading if you enjoy chick-lit and emotive stories. If you are looking for something deep and meaningful with a happy resolution, I would probably give this one a miss - its probably a bit lightweight on the deep and meaningful side.
January 6, 2012
I really enjoyed this book and thought that the characters of both Hollie and Scarlett were well written and in such a way that you did care about what was going to happen to them. I've never read Giselle Green's books before but I would certainly pick up another one of her novels if the opportunity arose.
January 4, 2012
i absolutely loved this book wasnt so fussed on the ending but i really got into the characters, i so hated pandoras box by the same author so was glad that this made me change my mind it was sad happy and heartwarming brilliant to the end
March 25, 2012
Started this book yesterday when i realised i had actualy read it before. It is set in my home county of Kent and bought back alot of memories of Old Rochester. Recommended read.
May 28, 2012
I enjoyed reading this book. It was hard to put it down once I started it :)
October 26, 2012
Kitap bitti sonunda ama ben de bittim niyeyse beni hiç tatmin etmeyen bir sonduu :/
February 28, 2013
This was a really good book
Read
October 27, 2018*SPOILERS*
The book A Sister's Gift by Giselle Green focuses on the infertility of Hollie. I feel as though some people may enjoy this book, but others may think that it is taken to far.
Hollie has been using in vitro fertilization to try to conceive a child. As Hollie is becoming hopeless, she realizes there is one more possibility to have a child. Her sister is the only answer.
After receiving a letter from her infertility doctor, Hollie realizes her best option of having a child is by asking her sister to be the surrogate (Green, 9). When Scarlett returns home from the amazon rainforest, she agrees to be Hollies surrogate under few conditions. In return, Hollie must learn to take risks (Green, 75). Something Scarlett hides for awhile is that she only said yes to being the surrogate so Hollie felt like she owed her something. Scarlett thinks that if she is the surrogate, Hollie will feel obligated to sell Florence Cottage to get a bigger house. She thinks she will receive half the money of the house which she can put towards her company fundings (Green, 69).
Throughout the process of trying to conceive a child, there were many ups and downs. Since the first few tries were not successful, Hollies acupuncture doctor thinks it will work best if they try the ¨natural way¨ (Green,157) . Hollie takes this to heart and asks Scarlett and Richard, Hollie´s husband, to sleep together. This is something most people wouldn't consider. Against Richards better judgment, he agrees to make Hollie happy (Green, 182).
While they are trying to make a baby, Scarlett drops a bomb. She tells Richard she is in love with him (Green, 224). When Hollie finds out about this, she kicks Scarlett out of the house (Green, 288). So, Scarlett returns to South America (Green, 308). After Scarlett leaves, Hollie decides it is time to take some risks and make some changes. She learns how to swim (Green, 361), decides to sell Florence Cottage, and move to Italy with Richard (Green, 392). She then learns to forgive Scarlett. Hollie sends Scarlett a letter telling her that she forgives her and that she wants her to come home (Green, 407). When Scarlett gets the letter, she instantly jumps on the plane to come home (Green, 409).
Overall, I think people will have mixed feelings about this book. The book is well written but things got weird towards the middle of the book. As I said before, things started getting messed up when we found out Scarlett only said yes to being the surrogate to make Hollie feel as if she owed her something. Things only got more weird from there. Something that really could have caused someone to dislike this book is when Hollie risks her marriage just so she could have a baby. Asking her husband to sleep with her sister was asking too much. Although, the end of the book when Hollie and Scarlett forgive each other, it shows how sister's cannot stay upset with each other. This shows how special a sisters bond truly is. The ending of this book is heartwarming and may change the readers overall opinion.
The book A Sister's Gift by Giselle Green focuses on the infertility of Hollie. I feel as though some people may enjoy this book, but others may think that it is taken to far.
Hollie has been using in vitro fertilization to try to conceive a child. As Hollie is becoming hopeless, she realizes there is one more possibility to have a child. Her sister is the only answer.
After receiving a letter from her infertility doctor, Hollie realizes her best option of having a child is by asking her sister to be the surrogate (Green, 9). When Scarlett returns home from the amazon rainforest, she agrees to be Hollies surrogate under few conditions. In return, Hollie must learn to take risks (Green, 75). Something Scarlett hides for awhile is that she only said yes to being the surrogate so Hollie felt like she owed her something. Scarlett thinks that if she is the surrogate, Hollie will feel obligated to sell Florence Cottage to get a bigger house. She thinks she will receive half the money of the house which she can put towards her company fundings (Green, 69).
Throughout the process of trying to conceive a child, there were many ups and downs. Since the first few tries were not successful, Hollies acupuncture doctor thinks it will work best if they try the ¨natural way¨ (Green,157) . Hollie takes this to heart and asks Scarlett and Richard, Hollie´s husband, to sleep together. This is something most people wouldn't consider. Against Richards better judgment, he agrees to make Hollie happy (Green, 182).
While they are trying to make a baby, Scarlett drops a bomb. She tells Richard she is in love with him (Green, 224). When Hollie finds out about this, she kicks Scarlett out of the house (Green, 288). So, Scarlett returns to South America (Green, 308). After Scarlett leaves, Hollie decides it is time to take some risks and make some changes. She learns how to swim (Green, 361), decides to sell Florence Cottage, and move to Italy with Richard (Green, 392). She then learns to forgive Scarlett. Hollie sends Scarlett a letter telling her that she forgives her and that she wants her to come home (Green, 407). When Scarlett gets the letter, she instantly jumps on the plane to come home (Green, 409).
Overall, I think people will have mixed feelings about this book. The book is well written but things got weird towards the middle of the book. As I said before, things started getting messed up when we found out Scarlett only said yes to being the surrogate to make Hollie feel as if she owed her something. Things only got more weird from there. Something that really could have caused someone to dislike this book is when Hollie risks her marriage just so she could have a baby. Asking her husband to sleep with her sister was asking too much. Although, the end of the book when Hollie and Scarlett forgive each other, it shows how sister's cannot stay upset with each other. This shows how special a sisters bond truly is. The ending of this book is heartwarming and may change the readers overall opinion.
April 5, 2018
I did enjoying reading this book although it was quite apparent from the being that the sisters were thinking only of themselves. I thought Hollie the older sister was a bit of a manipulator really. Her younger sister Scarlet is engrossed in her work helping save the rain forest of Brizil. Both, Although I did feel sorry for Hollie My main concern was for Scarlet . She did agree to carry a baby for Hollie even though it would interfere with her life considerably.
February 26, 2020
Gah, where to start? I found this book dragged from beginning to end with no feeling of achievement in the story at the final page. I just couldn't get my head around a character being so desperate for a baby that she would ask her husband and sister to sleep together.
I found the storyline unbelievable, the plot twists obvious and overall really not something I enjoyed. It's not the type of book I would usually read, but picked it up from the hotel library.
I found the storyline unbelievable, the plot twists obvious and overall really not something I enjoyed. It's not the type of book I would usually read, but picked it up from the hotel library.
March 25, 2023
A Gift Of Love
There are many kinds of Gifts, but the best Gift is a Gift of Love! Two sisters learn how important the Gift of Love and the Gift of Forgiveness are two equally important Gifts. But sometimes it takes years to learn how important forgiveness is to be able to experience the Gift of Love. Enjoyable read.
There are many kinds of Gifts, but the best Gift is a Gift of Love! Two sisters learn how important the Gift of Love and the Gift of Forgiveness are two equally important Gifts. But sometimes it takes years to learn how important forgiveness is to be able to experience the Gift of Love. Enjoyable read.
August 28, 2018
I only enjoyed the first half of this book. After that, it is dead boring and doesn't make sense. I gave up reading towards the end. Too many information on Scarlett's work at the amazon....boring stuff
November 17, 2018
A great read
A really enjoyable read however left needing a next instalment ... Too many unanswered questions but this is just because I personally like to know that the characters are all ok and happy
A really enjoyable read however left needing a next instalment ... Too many unanswered questions but this is just because I personally like to know that the characters are all ok and happy
October 10, 2017
Very drawn out, and boy am I glad I don't have a sister!
April 24, 2018
Bit of a disappointing open ended ending :-(
March 15, 2019
One of my favourites!!!
A good Read from beginning to end... loved it
Such a gripping storyline with some real heart wrenching moments for both sisters
A good Read from beginning to end... loved it
Such a gripping storyline with some real heart wrenching moments for both sisters
September 24, 2019
A really poor read.
The characters were weak, the plot was ridiculous and vague and the story was drawn out with no apparent idea where it was going until it finished.
The characters were weak, the plot was ridiculous and vague and the story was drawn out with no apparent idea where it was going until it finished.
February 13, 2021
Great read!
January 1, 2023
Really liked it!!
This us a really good book. I couldn't wait to see what happened. It has a very interesting sister relationship .
This us a really good book. I couldn't wait to see what happened. It has a very interesting sister relationship .
January 8, 2016
This was an interesting book. About halfway through, I wanted to stop reading and hurl the book across the room in frustration, because the two main characters in this book are truly stupid. Then again, we all do stupid things that we know are wrong, and generally we do that for the same reasons these women do - because of something we really, really want. Or we think we really, really want because we have been focused on it for so long, at the detriment of living our lives, that we can't see or imagine anything else. Because in the end that's what this book is really about, and because of that, once you get past the plot which is just the bad side of unbelievable, this book is actually worth a read.
Some people complained about the ending, but it didn't really bother me that a lot of things were left hanging. Despite the main thrust of the plot being about having a baby, the book wasn't really about the baby at all. The book is about desire and how it can lead us to do some pretty destructive things and how when we learn to let go of it, the world of other possibilities opens to us. The book dealt with that in both of the main characters, so nothing more needed to be said. We all know what's going to happen after that last chapter - it didn't need to be explicitly stated. I wouldn't have minded an epilogue or something, but it didn't need it.
Some people complained about the ending, but it didn't really bother me that a lot of things were left hanging. Despite the main thrust of the plot being about having a baby, the book wasn't really about the baby at all. The book is about desire and how it can lead us to do some pretty destructive things and how when we learn to let go of it, the world of other possibilities opens to us. The book dealt with that in both of the main characters, so nothing more needed to be said. We all know what's going to happen after that last chapter - it didn't need to be explicitly stated. I wouldn't have minded an epilogue or something, but it didn't need it.
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