The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan - Book Review

I have chosen to read several modern day fiction titles this year and as what seems to happen so often the titles line up together in my schedule. I find this so amusing since I accept the books for review about 6 monrhs out so I generally don’t remember from book to book. I found the synopsis of The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan very interesting and was pleased to receive a copy at no charge for my honest review.

About The Sweeney Sisters:

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.

About the Author:

Lian Dolan is a writer and broadcaster, whose name is pronounced like “Liam” but with an “n.” She is the creator and host of “Satellite Sisters”, the award-winning and top-rated radio talk show she produces with her four real sisters: Julie, Liz, Sheila, and Monica. She also created the popular podcast about modern motherhood, “The Chaos Chronicles”, developed by Nick at Nite for TV. Lian is the author of two Los Angeles Times best-selling novels, Helen of Pasadena and Elizabeth the First Wife, and a regular columnist for Pasadena Magazine. A graduate of Pomona College in Claremont, she now lives in Pasadena, California with her husband and two sons

My Opinion:

The three girls known collectively as the Sweeney sisters grew up in the shadow of their father - a brilliant writer but a mercurial man. They have each taken an individual turn - one as a corporate lawyer, one as an artist, and one as a perfect wife and mother. Their childhood memories are mixed as their mother died when they were still young but the news of their father’s passing is a bit of a shock for he was the kind of man that everyone thought would live forever.

The girls come together and plan a proper Irish wake for friends and family to allow those close mourn for the man before the world in general mourns for the legend. It’s a celebration of the great man’s life and the next day they meet with their father’s close friend and lawyer to read the will. This is where their close family world comes crashing down when he informs them that they have a half sister. She is the result of a relationship her father had with a neighbor - the girls had no idea and are somewhat shocked and quite reluctant to trust this young woman. Particularly given that she is a reporter. What is she really after?

The Sweeney Sisters is a very character driven novel - did I really need to type that? I am sure anyone could tell that from the title. It is, therefore a very good thing that Ms. Dolan has created some really fun and interesting characters. Each of the sisters is unique and yet you can imagine these women being part of a typical family even they live in that rarified and fictional world where money doesn’t seem to matter because there will always be some. But that is why we love to read these books.

The Sweeney Sisters is about three girls finding themselves, learning to live without an outsized parent, creating new lives and finding the truth of the past. All while learning to trust a stranger who is suddenly family. I really enjoyed getting to know the Sweeney Sisters and their families and friends. Reading the book was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. I settled in with a nice cup of tea and just started turning pages. I didn’t stop until I had finished the book. It was a good read with family drama, romance and more.

Rating:

4