Just Like the Bronte Sisters by Laurel Osterkamp follows two sisters, Jo Beth and Skylar. The first part of the book is told in dual POV between the sisters, and readers begin to understand the dynamic between the pair. After Olympic medalist skier Jo Beth is injured and any future Olympic hopes are dashed, she flees to Brazil, breaking Skylar’s heart by leaving her behind. Through a series of twists, turns, heartbreak and romance, we are led to part two of the book, which brings in more POVs for the story and adds another layer. This novel is described as “unconventional” in the synopsis, and that I would definitely agree with. As we move toward the final chapters, there are sure some eyebrow-raising moments in here. I have read from Laurel Osterkamp in the past, and was looking forward to a new offering from her.
I will say the book did start off slow for me, with short clips from each sister making it a bit of a challenge to really get invested. I decided to keep reading, and in the end, I’m glad I did. There were moments that seemed a little bizarre to me, with so much personality flip-flopping between both sisters and even other supporting cast members. It was a bit hard to feel a kinship with any said character for that reason, but it was such an interesting story that I did want to keep reading. I think the writing is very good for a story such as this, and even during slow moments managed to still keep me invested. The ending did have me quite surprised, and I found myself really enjoying the epilogue. Overall, I felt a bit conflicted after reading, but I never stopped and it sure had me thinking through the entire story after I finished it, so I still believe it was worth the read.
4 stars
Reviewed for Reader’s Favorite
