The Reading Bud

Book Blog by Heena Rathore-Pardeshi

Book Review: The Sweeny Sisters by Lian Dolan

Author: Lian Dolan 
Release Date: 28th April 2020
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Family & Relationships
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 304
Publisher: William Morrow 
Blurb:
Angels…
Death Stalkers…
ReaAn 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 that combines the wit of Jonathan Tropper with the heart of Susan Wiggs.
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.

Book Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Sweeny Sisters by Lian Dolan is a spectacular contemporary read which has a lot to offer to its readers. It is funny, heart-warming, emotional at times and conveys the strength of a bond of sisters in such a beautiful way that it is hard not to like this book.

Although this book was fiction, it did a pretty good job of convincing me otherwise. The characters felt so real and full of life and the story was so fresh and good that I wanted to believe it all to be true. And that is the best way an author can indulge a reader! The book was well-written and I loved the cover image of the book. The concept was good and the story-line very engaging.

I loved every bit of it and would recommend it to all contemporary fiction reads and anyone who likes reading about family and relationships in general.

You can also read this review on Goodreads and NetGalley

I love reading your comments, so please go ahead…

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

I’m Heena

Welcome to The Reading Bud, my cosy corner of the internet dedicated to all things books and authors. Here, I invite you to join me on a journey of discovering under-represented books, independent and small press authors, and all things book with a touch of love and loud purrs. Let’s get Reading!

June 2020
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  

Reading is like breathing to me.

Recent Posts

  • Book Spotlight: THE FATIMA FILE: The Case of the Missing Millennium by Tom Lysaght 

    Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring Tom Lysaght for their latest release, The Fatima File: The Case of the Missing Millennium. Book: THE FATIMA FILE: The Case of the Missing MillenniumAuthor: Tom Lysaght Publication Date: 12 May…

  • Book Review: Red Sky by A. B. Acharya

    Book Details: Author: A.B. AcharyaRelease Date: 2 March 2026Series: Juggernaut Series (Book #1)Genre: Medical Conspiracy ThrillerFormat: E-book Pages: 334 pagesPublisher: –Blurb:He came to fix the world’s most dangerous drug. The drug had other plans.Narin Roy is writing his…

  • Book Spotlight: The Strains of Malice by Andrew Beardmore

    Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring Andrew Beardmore for their latest release, The Strains of Malice. Book: The Strains of MaliceAuthor: Andrew BeardmorePublication Date: 28/2/2025Publisher: Ryelands Books (an imprint of Halsgrove Publishing) Pages: 397Genre: Epic…

  • Book Review: North of Broken & Furever Home by Holly B. Gutwillinger

    Book Details: Author: Holly B. Gutwillinger Release Date: 14 February 2026Series: Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Animal FictionFormat: E-book Pages: 264 pagesPublisher: Ramblings From The Little Shed PublishingBlurb:Renley Nelsen’s life is unravelling. She’s caught between midlife melancholy, her sons have drifted…

  • Author Interview: Travis Peterson

    Welcome to TRB Lounge. Today, I’d like to welcome Travis Peterson, author of Salvation Reigned, for an author interview with The Reading Bud. About The Author Travis Peterson Travis James Peterson is a former Marine. He has spent…