"This is a big-hearted belly-laugh of a book, told with wit and
poignancy. Family secrets, laughter and tears, shocking reveals, and an
uplifting ending make this a story to savor--and share."--Susan Wiggs,
New York Times bestselling author of The Lost and Found Bookshop
An accomplished storyteller returns with her biggest, boldest, most
entertaining novel yet--a hilarious, heartfelt story about books, love,
sisterhood, and the surprises we discover in our DNA.
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.
"Dolan uses her experience in podcasting with her own sisters to craft
believable women characters who worry about real problems and use wry
humor to push through dark moments . . . . A warmhearted portrait of
love embracing true hearts."--Kirkus
