Review: Sisters by Daisy Johnson

A surprise gem of a read! Sisters will have you in a deep dive of emotions and send you on a tumultuous spiral into the world of two sisters with an unsettling connection.

From the Publisher:

Born just ten months apart, July and September are thick as thieves, never needing anyone but each other. Now, following a case of school bullying, the teens have moved away with their single mother to a long-abandoned family home near the shore. In their new, isolated life, July finds that the deep bond she has always shared with September is shifting in ways she cannot entirely understand. A creeping sense of dread and unease descends inside the house. Meanwhile, outside, the sisters push boundaries of behavior—until a series of shocking encounters tests the limits of their shared experience, and forces shocking revelations about the girls’ past and future.

Review:

Two things to note - I will recommend this book at every opportunity & I was completely unprepared for the emotional havoc this was going to wreak on my mind and heart. With that said let's get into it...

I will admit, the first time I sat down with this book I had some trouble getting through the first chapter - the uniqueness with which Daisy Johnson writes took some adjusting and I wasn't sure if my mood-reading personality was ever going to get on board. It did and I'm grateful! Ultimately you get this puzzle of a story that weaves together through 3 perspectives and several time jumps, back and forth. It works, I promise! Coming in at just 207ish pages, there is so much packed into these short chapters.

July and September are a force that burns strong from page one and as more of their connection, behaviors, and past unfold, I had so many questions that I needed answered, unable to put this down. The psychological state of both sisters is a roller coaster ride in itself, slowing down here and there only to give a small glimpse into a reality that is hidden between the words from the very beginning.

The author goes deep into descriptions of mental illness present in the family, the significance and events of the house they have returned to, and a glimpse into the future where the echoes of the Sister's connection live on. The eerie vibes of it all left me holding my breath, clinging to any guesses as to what was really going on.

The horror aspect is not a jump scare, over-the-top gore, or even a scary heart-pounding moment. It is sprinkled throughout in moments of loneliness, a portrayal of what the mind can do in the darkest of times, and a house that feels just as alive as its occupants.

I rewrote this review several times to ensure I wasn't giving away too much because the impact this book had on me was majorly due to not knowing what was going on. Overall I want to emphasize that the writing is magnificent, and every character, even those just passing through, is well-developed and meaningful. The setting is extremely well executed and I will be thinking about this book for a very long time. I rated this 5 stars, well deserved!

I've read reviews that compare Sisters to the likeness of I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Ian Reid, and I agree, however, they are different in their own way and I would recommend these books for different reasons.