The Almost Sisters

A Novel

By: Joshilyn Jackson

Narrated by: Joshilyn Jackson

With empathy, grace, humor, and piercing insight, the author of Gods in Alabama presents a powerful, emotionally resonant novel of the South that confronts the truth about privilege, family, and the distinctions between perception and reality - the stories we tell ourselves about our origins and who we really are.

Superheroes have always been Leia Birch Briggs' weakness. One tequila-soaked night at a comics convention, the usually level-headed graphic novelist is swept off her barstool by a handsome and anonymous Batman.

It turns out the caped crusader has left her with more than just a nice, fuzzy memory. She's having a baby boy - an unexpected but not unhappy development in the 38-year-old's life. But before Leia can break the news of her impending single-motherhood (including the fact that her baby is biracial) to her conventional Southern family, her stepsister Rachel's marriage implodes. Worse, she learns her beloved 90-year-old grandmother, Birchie, is losing her mind, and she's been hiding her dementia with the help of Wattie, her best friend since girlhood.

Leia returns to Alabama to put her grandmother's affairs in order, clean out the big Victorian that has been in the Birch family for generations, and tell her family that she's pregnant. Yet just when Leia thinks she's got it all under control, she learns that illness is not the only thing Birchie's been hiding. Tucked in the attic is a dangerous secret with roots that reach all the way back to the Civil War. Its exposure threatens the family's freedom and future, and it will change everything about how Leia sees herself and her sister, her son and his missing father, and the world she thinks she knows.

©2017 Joshilyn Jackson (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Wonderful Story. Brilliantly Narrated by Author

No spoilers here. I've read all of Ms. Jackson's books and I believe this is my favorite. I adored the main character. She is so lovable and so human. I can't praise this book enough.

I enjoyed the basic plot of the story.

basic plot was good, but sometimes the aurthur would go on rants about social injustice, which I don't appreciate, as I read for escapism. Also there was a lot of subject matter revolving around fangirl comic book things which I do not relate to, and found did not really bring anything to the storyline.

Refreshing

A very refreshing story. Well written and performed. I am now a Joshilyn Jackson fane

compelling, funny, engaging

compelling, funny and engaging while delving into deep issues that divide this country. the plots and subplots we're woven together beautifully.

Timely plot

I didn't think I would like this, but finally gave it a try during the pandemic. The story is quite relevant today. Unfortunately, I find the author/narrator's voice to be strident.

Genius!

I can't believe how many facets of this book called to me. I love "nerd" books: sci-fi, fantasy, dystopian, etc... And my husband and I have raised our kids to be proud nerds.

But I also love books about real life troubles.

I never thought about a book about a nerd having real life troubles! It's genius! I connected with Leia immediately. I loved her ever present empathy, as well as her no nonsense assertiveness. She is everything I try to be.

The secret is a huge, devastating one. I wondered if I'd guessed it for a while, but I was still shocked and surprised at how it came to be! In painting this family, the author sheds a realistic light on broken families who are stitched back together, racial bias and conflicts, and the relationships sisters have, across the lifespan. She even got the medical details right, and got into the mind and heart of a nurse like she is one.

Excellent book! I will seek out more from this author!

Pretty good

So, I love this genre of story telling, and I’m a geek like the main character, so I should have loved the book. It was good but no great. Books such as The Help, The Secret Life of Bees or The Wedding Gift are better examples from this type of fiction. It was a good story.

Really enjoyed

I loved this book. Really enjoyed the story & the characters. Kept me interested from the very beginning

Don’t pass this one up!

This book was a treat! The story is beautifully written and the performance is superb. The characters are rich and brought to life beautifully with wonderful voices by Ms. Jackson. Well done!

Loved this book!

This was my first Joshilyn Jackson read, and the first of many, many to follow! I'm impressed with the story, the life lessons, and the fantastic narration. Set in the modern day US South against an unexpected backdrop of superheros, villains, and comic book enthusiasts.