About the Book
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.
My Review
I do love a good family drama, and The Sweeney Sisters had all the makings of a great novel. Three sisters coping with the sudden death of their father, dealing with the press, his estate, his literary legacy, and trying to plan an over the top wake to honor their famous father. To add to the drama, the sister’s neighbor is revealed as their half-sister. Grappling with their father’s affair, the sudden addition of a family member, and how her presence could now change everything with his legacy, the three women all struggle to hold it together.
I really enjoyed that we got insight on all of the sisters. It would be great to see a follow up and how the sisters are getting on, because each woman was so different in what she was struggling with. The modern twist – a DNA test uncovering true genetics – was interesting to read, and also the potential fallout with Serena and her side of the family kept me curious how everything was going to go down. I can’t say I loved Maggie’s character, but the dynamics between all of the – four – sisters was really enjoyable for me to read. Would recommend!
4.5 stars
