Bill Sweeney was one of the most formative writers of his time; decades after his books were written they continue to be taught in schools, discussed, and revered. Fifteen years ago his poet wife, Maeve, died, leaving him to raise their three daughters in their small seaside town of Southport, Connecticut. Bill did the best he could, although the sisters took care of themselves and became even more inseparable.
One morning, the sisters get the call from their long-time housekeeper that Bill has died. It’s a shock, as they felt somehow he might live forever, but the three—Liza, Maggie, and Tricia—return to their childhood home to make sense of it all.
It turns out that Bill was hiding a few shocking secrets from the girls, which knock them for a loop. As they try to ready the house for sale, they’re desperately searching for Bill’s missing memoir, and in light of their discoveries, wonder what everything will mean for his literary legacy and their lives. How will it affect their own memories of their father, too?
On top of dealing with their father’s death, each woman has their own challenges to deal with. It’s an emotional time, fraught with roadblocks and crises which test their relationships and force them to reexamine their pasts and their futures.
I love a book full of good family drama, and The Sweeney Sisters certainly doesn’t disappoint. Lian Dolan did a great job with her story, and I couldn’t get enough of these characters. Sure, it’s predictable in places, but I love the fact that Dolan didn’t veer too far into melodrama, because there definitely were places the plot could have gone into that territory, and that might have derailed the story.
How well do we know those we love? How much can we depend on family in our time of need? How do others see us? Should late-in-life discoveries change how we've viewed a person for our entire life? These were fascinating questions this book tries to answer, and does so well.
I received an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks to William Morrow Books, Lian Dolan, and Wunderkind PR for making it available!
The book publishes 4/28.
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