Book Review: Sisterhood by Cathy Kelly
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About the book
Two sisters. One secret. A journey to learn who they really are...
Lou never puts herself first. She always looks out for other people.
Even at her own birthday party, all she does is worry whether everybody else is having a good time. Then a terrible secret upends the celebrations. And she decides to do the one thing that nobody ever expects: something for herself.
But she’s going to need her sister. Life has pulled Lou and Toni apart - yet now they set off on a journey, one that will whisk them from the windswept Irish coast to sun-baked Sicily.
Where will their journey end?
Why we love it
If you’ve ever felt invisible, taken for granted or unappreciated by those around you, then Sisterhood by Cathy Kelly is definitely for you.
It’s Lou’s 50th birthday. She’s just been passed over for a promotion to a job that she’s already been unofficially doing for years anyway, her well-meaning yet forgetful husband hasn’t done anything special to acknowledge her big day and her attention-seeking mother ruins her birthday party by publicly dropping the kind of life-changing bombshell there’s no way back from.
And so Lou does the one thing that we’ve all been tempted to do at some point or another - she walks away from everything and everyone.
Along with her sister Toni, who’s dealing with her own relationship turmoil, and a troubled young woman they encounter along the way, Lou embarks on a journey of self-discovery and healing through the Irish countryside and then on to sun-drenched Sicily, forcing her family and colleagues to manage without her for once.
I devoured this book in one sitting and my heart just broke for Lou. She tries so hard to avoid confrontation, valiantly brushing off every small slight and hurt that comes her way. When the inevitable breaking point comes, there’s something entirely relatable about her emotional meltdown and instinct to flee.
What makes this book so truly special is how authentic Cathy Kelly’s characters are. Lou’s development throughout the novel was particularly compelling and her struggle to find her own voice will be so recognisable to many readers.
The relationship between Lou and Toni forms the real heart of the story and is a powerful celebration of the bond of sisterhood at it’s best. Even though they’re so very different from each other, the unconditional love they share gives them each the courage to challenge toxic family dynamics, rediscover their self-worth and learn to prioritise their needs.
Sisterhood is an inspiring, uplifting story of love, resilience and the incredible strength that comes from women supporting one another - I highly recommend it.
