“This is a big-hearted belly-laugh of a book, told with wit and poignancy. Family secrets, laughter and tears, shocking reveals, and an uplifting ending make this a story to savor–and share.”–Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost and Found Bookshop
An accomplished storyteller returns with her biggest, boldest, most entertaining novel yet—a hilarious, heartfelt story about … novel yet—a hilarious, heartfelt story about books, love, sisterhood, and the surprises we discover in our DNA.
Maggie, Eliza, and Tricia Sweeney grew up as a happy threesome in the idyllic seaside town of Southport, Connecticut. But their mother’s death from cancer fifteen years ago tarnished their golden-hued memories, and the sisters drifted apart. Their one touchstone is their father, Bill Sweeney, an internationally famous literary lion and college professor universally adored by critics, publishers, and book lovers. When Bill dies unexpectedly one cool June night, his shell-shocked daughters return to their childhood home. They aren’t quite sure what the future holds without their larger-than-life father, but they do know how to throw an Irish wake to honor a man of his stature.
But as guests pay their respects and reminisce, one stranger, emboldened by whiskey, has crashed the party. It turns out that she too is a Sweeney sister.
When Washington, DC based journalist Serena Tucker had her DNA tested on a whim a few weeks earlier, she learned she had a 50% genetic match with a childhood neighbor—Maggie Sweeney of Southport, Connecticut. It seems Serena’s chilly WASP mother, Birdie, had a history with Bill Sweeney—one that has remained totally secret until now.
Once the shock wears off, questions abound. What does this mean for William’s literary legacy? Where is the unfinished memoir he’s stashed away, and what will it reveal? And how will a fourth Sweeney sister—a blond among redheads—fit into their story?
By turns revealing, insightful, and uproarious, The Sweeney Sisters is equal parts cautionary tale and celebration—a festive and heartfelt look at what truly makes a family.
“Dolan uses her experience in podcasting with her own sisters to craft believable women characters who worry about real problems and use wry humor to push through dark moments . . . . A warmhearted portrait of love embracing true hearts.”—Kirkus
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It was enjoyable read.
This book had believeable characters who grew as life threw them ‘stuff’
]. . it was very readable and believable. The characters grew into their new lives. loved it
Best book I have read in years!
This was really quite good. Three close sisters find after their famous father’s death that he had fathered another girl with their longtime neighbor. The four women eventually find out how that had come about and get to know each other better and accept the situation.
I listened to this one and it was good but I could have taken it or left it. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. The Sweeney Sisters have just lost their father and discovered they have another half sister. The father seems like a crazy, out for himself, not that decent of a guy. They learn a lot about him from a memoir they knew nothing about and in turn find some new direction for their own lives.
I really enjoyed this delightful family drama story. It’s a story about three sisters who are mourning the loss of their father and reliving the loss of their mother who had died years earlier with the addition of a fourth sister born outside of the family. I appreciated the way Lian Dolan wrote the characters and stayed true to how different siblings can be from each other.
Actual rating is 4 1/2 stars
Note: This review contains NO spoilers
Being the first book I have read from this author, the synopsis wasn’t far off in describing this latest novel by Lian Dolan. The Sweeney Sisters IS an emotional and humorous story of sisterhood and family. Although it starts off with the loss of a family member, The Sweeney Sisters tells of how they deal with the unexpected death of their father, well-known literary writer, William Sweeney.
The story dives into the sisters dealing with their fathers death and the aftermath of it all. From dealing with each other, other family and friends, plus their father’s “dirty laundry,” the sisters also learn and deal with the secrets that their father kept, but now, they have to face. With every turn of the page, I was taken down “memory lane” as William Sweeney’s life was told… Well, in particular, through they “eyes and memories of his daughters. With its steady pace of unraveling William Sweeney’s life, the pages also revealed the lives of his daughters as well. The Sweeney sisters each go through these emotional ups and downs in their own ways as well as they can. They have all established their lives after growing up, then this untimely death brings them back together. And, to add to the “stress” of handling their father’s final arrangements, secrets he kept comes to light.
I was completely caught up with their plight with dealing with “everything.” Each with their own emotions and personalities, they each deal with this information in their own way, including finding out they have another sister. Although set in the childhood town/home, a lot happens with this family that got me all emotional and laughing at the same time. I enjoyed this read of family, especially on how these sisters dealt with all the intensely emotional ups and downs. In the end, family is family.
All in all, The Sweeney Sisters is a poignant and enjoyable read with a beautiful setting and complex and well-developed characters walking readers through a difficult and emotional time of their lives and how they handled it. As being a big sister myself, I could pretty much say that those with siblings, could relate, in one or another, with this story.
Reviewer: Jasmine
I had looked forward to reading this book after reading other books by Lian Dolan. This was just the type of book I needed to read right now. The story of a family with all the funny, realistic issues that arise. I recommend this.
Ok
This was a great book! I highly recommend it.
5 stars
I have spent the last three days reading The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan. This story is about three adult sisters who have lost their father. Bill Sweeney was an admired writer and Yale professor. His wife died when the girls were growing up. I have often felt the last gift a parent can give is the time that brings adult children back together after the parent’s death. Each of the three girls have their strengths and weaknesses. I felt like I was an omniscient eye in the room with these sisters as they work on problems they have with each other and certain transgressions of their father including finding out that the girls have a half sister they did not know about. I laughed, cried, and loved this story. I want to find out where they are and what they are doing five years later. This is a great book to snuggle up with on a rainy or snowy day or on the beach, I think it would also make a great bookclub read. Looking forward to reading more books by Lian Dolan. Thank you Book Club Girls, William Morrow and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a cover snob…there, I admitted it! Not a fan of the current rash of cartoon-type covers, I usually run from these books. But, the jacket write-up of this book (I’m also a sucker for sister stories) and a recommendation on Goodreads, made me think twice about this one. And, I’m happy to say, I’m glad I did! Do not judge a book by its cover…I’ll be more open now, or at least I’ll try!
This was a fast paced read, perfect for the isolation and climbing of walls I’ve been going thru this week. A realistic look at the three Sweeney Sisters (Liza, Maggie and Tricia)who are born to a famous literary author and poet. Idyllic life? Not so much. WIlliam Sweeney has numerous demons that he fights. Maeve Sweeney a free spirit poet, her life is cut short. The sisters are dealt blow after blow when their dies suddenly, a random DNA test finds another sister (Serena), a missing manuscript, inheritance issues and each one dealing with their own private issues.
Ms. Dolan delves into real family drama in such a way that we become fully vested in all four sisters as we start to peel back the layers of each and the dynamics of growing up with a not-so-perfect father figure. As the youngest of 3 sisters, I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions of the sisters collectively and each in their own right. Adding a 4th to the mix was well done. Thoroughly enjoyed the story line, cast of characters and writing style! I look forward to reading this author again.
Thanks to Ms Dolan, William Marrow and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
Title: The Sweeney Sisters
Author: Lian Dolan
Genre: Domestic fiction
My rating: 4 Stars
The Sweeney Sisters is a captivating story about family dynamic’s and the complexities that can arise as a result. This book plunges right into the problematic lives of three sisters: Maggie, Liz, and Trisha Sweeney. We get to see their story unfold at the cusp of tragedy and loss. It was interesting examining their strengths, and idiosyncrasies. When their father passes, and they find out a scandalous secret, will they fly or fold? How will they move on with the flood of emotions ebbing at their joy, prior the hurtful detail?
Final thoughts…
This book was charming, delightful, and tissue box worthy. It made me cry and laugh at times. Definitely a book I suggest reading!
*Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.
This colorful story follows three very different sisters Liza, Maggie and Tricia as they cope with the death of their well known father William Sweeney and their journey to come to terms with the unexpected legacy he left behind. William Sweeney was a famous writer who was known for his writing, womanizing, drinking and gambling. He left a finished memoir hidden that they must find and a secret sibling who had lived right next door most of their lives. The girls must come to terms with the idea of a fourth Sweeney sister and whether they want to open themselves up to forming a relationship with her. Serena, the newly discovered family member must also digest all of this having thought all her life that she was an only child until she did a DNA test for fun. This book magnificently highlights sibling relationships and the beauty of how family and friends bond together through the best and worst of times. Sometimes unpleasant situations can bring about the best changes. I enjoyed this book so much and found myself laughing and crying throughout it.
It’s always been the three Sweeney Sisters sticking together through growing up and becoming adults. When their mother died, they all assumed different roles to take care of each other and their father, the literary great, William Sweeney. When he dies unexpectedly, the sisters return home to plan his funeral and figure out what is next. When they gather, they realize that the location of his missing memoir is not the only secret their father left: they have another sister. As the sisters deal with the bombshell and wonder what other secrets their father’s memoir holds, each has to deal with how their lives were affected by their father’s actions and his legacy, and how they will move forward as a family.
THE SWEENEY SISTERS BY Lian Dolan is a novel about family, both the one you are born into and the one you ultimately make for yourselves. The sisters had a lot to deal with when it came to their father and had to realize that it was okay to remember things as they were and not gloss over them, all the while trying to figure out if they could forgive and move on. I enjoyed the characters and how they were developed, as well as the way they interacted and learned to navigate their relationship. I also liked how the three, Liza, Maggie, and Tricia, navigated their individual relationships with their newly discovered sister, Serena and each found their place as sisters. William Sweeney’s shadow was far reaching, and I enjoyed how the family found what was right for their future, even if it wasn’t what was expected by their father or local society.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
#BookClubGirls #WilliamMorrow #TheSweeneySisters
The Sweeney Sisters was the quick and meaningful read I’ve been searching for all spring!
Liza, Maggie, and Tricia are the red-headed sisters of Southport, Connecticut and haven’t been in contact much since losing their mother to cancer fifteen years ago. When their literary father William Sweeney unexpectedly passes away, they are brought back together to sort through their childhood home and locate the unfinished memoir he’s hidden. Amidst their grieving, they quickly learn that a fourth Sweeney sister exists and just so happens to have grown up down their childhood street. This sister, Serena Tucker, discovered her true familial identity courtesy of a DNA test she took on a whim weeks ago.
Throughout the story, I kept thinking about my relationship with my sister as well as each of my parents. It had me reflecting on family dynamics, sibling support, and navigating personal upheaval. Readers can quickly sense the personality and emotion of each sister, creating an opportunity to feel connected regardless of who was narrating. While there were moments throughout the story that felt and were predictable, the emphasis on unveiling secrets and working through that messiness was what kept me hooked from beginning to end.
Special thanks to The Book Club Girls and WIlliam Morrow for the opportunity to read and review this e-arc!
I enjoyed reading the story of The Sweeney Sisters. It begins with the trio of sisters, Liza, Maggie, and Tricia, coming together to mourn their father’s sudden death. Their father, William Sweeney, was an accomplished writer, but not so accomplished as a father. Then, the Sweeney sisters receive a surprise when they meet with their father’s friend and lawyer, Cap. This surprise shakes their world, and cause them to question everything they had known about their parents. As they struggle with how this secret will affect their lives, they learn how to let go of things that don’t matter, and how to grab hold of things that do.
This is a story of struggle, of disappointment, but also of love, family, and hope. It is the connection of love that holds people together and helps them get through difficult times. It is how people choose to deal with things and how to include others that make all the difference.
#TheSweeneySisters #LianDolan #Edelweiss
This book failed to hold my interest. The premise was good – The Sweeney sisters’ father dies, and they throw an Irish wake for him. But the party is crashed by a half-sister they didn’t know existed.
Maybe I have just read too many sister stories lately and am burned out on them for a while. I found the pace to be too slow for me, and the characters not very well developed. None of these sisters really appealed to me. I felt no emotional connection with them, and, for me, that is one of the key components of a good family story. There are a few twists and surprises so I am sure many will enjoy the story.
My thanks to William Morrow Books for the advance copy to review.
The Sweeney Sisters by author Lian Dolan thrilled my heart as I read about the sisters. Liza, Maggie, and Tricia are shocked when they receive news that their father, William Sweeney, a successful literary author and professor has died suddenly of a heart attack. The girls had grieved the death of their poet mother years before and were not prepared for this news. The sisters plan the wake and are met with some shocking news from their father’s attorney… they have an older half-sister! How could this have happened and why did their father not acknowledge next-door neighbor, Serena?
A pressing matter for them is finding their father’s missing ‘tell-all’ manuscript of his memoirs. The agent and publisher are demanding the book so it can go to print quickly. They are dismayed by the problems facing them concerning the accumulated debts, time limit, and dealing with Serena, who inherits a fourth of the house. I enjoyed the book very much and can appreciate all the complications of turbulence in each of the sisters’ lives as they find their way and place in the family which remains.
I have three sisters and we are all close and very protective of each other so as the drama unfolded, I was totally captivated. Also, I have listened to the Satellite Sisters podcasts for years! They were such a bright spot in my day when I was living with my mom as her caregiver on her 40-acre farm as I watched her declining health. You will never know how I walked the wooded acres as I listened to your podcast and needed a short escape.
I appreciate the ARC of The Sweeney sisters I won in a giveaway by Goodreads. Thank you to the author and the publishers, William Morrow and Harper Collins.
This book was everything that it promised; sisterhood, family drama, romance, mystery and so much more, and doggies too!!!!
It all starts when an internationally famous author dies, he is the father of three redhead daughters, time and some circumstances some life came they drifted apart. When their father passes away, the sisters drop everything they are doing and return to their childhood home to say their last goodbye to their father and also their home.
But what they didn’t expect was finding a strange blonde girl crashing their father’s funeral and then later finding out that same stranger to be their sister. Now, their whole world is turned upside down again and the three of them must stick together and decide what to do with this fourth Sweeney sister and find out why she is here.
I was reading this book and it brought me back to the days I watched Desperate Housewives, who’s with me? So much drama, so much mystery and at the same time I just wanted more, I needed to continue to read to find out how this fourth sister came to be and why she was around. And when don’t think the other sisters’ lives are dull because the dram continues on their lives too lol.
Loved every minute of it and totally recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars!
I got and advance eARC from Netgalley.