Review: The Moon Sisters by Therese Walsh

This mesmerizing coming-of-age novel, with its sheen of near-magical realism, is a moving tale of family and the power of stories.
   After their mother's probable suicide, sisters Olivia and Jazz take steps to move on with their lives. Jazz, logical and forward-thinking, decides to get a new job, but spirited, strong-willed Olivia—who can see sounds, taste words, and smell sights—is determined to travel to the remote setting of their mother's unfinished novel to lay her spirit properly to rest.
   Already resentful of Olivia’s foolish quest and her family’s insistence upon her involvement, Jazz is further aggravated when they run into trouble along the way and Olivia latches to a worldly train-hopper who warns he shouldn’t be trusted. As they near their destination, the tension builds between the two sisters, each hiding something from the other, until they are finally forced to face everything between them and decide what is really important.

Kindle Edition, 288 pages

Expected publication: March 4th 2014 by Crown 

Kristine's Thoughts:

* I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Random House Crown via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.*

The Moon Sisters is a truly unique story about two sisters who are both struggling after the death of their mother. Worlds apart in their way of thinking the two sisters struggle to understand each other and their actions. Olivia sets out on a journey to find the place that was the setting of her mothers unfinished novel in the hopes of finding peace and Jazz reluctantly accompanies her in order to keep her safe. The journey takes a wrong turn and a series of events happen that neither one of them could imagine. It turns from a physical journey into a journey of self discovery, family, survival, hope, secrets, friendship, relationships and understanding.

Walsh weaves a wonderful story that bounces between Jazz and Olivia's point of view with letters written by their mother Beth to their grandfather that disowned her when she left him to get married and have a family. In doing this, the reader is able to get into both Moon sister's head as well as their mother's and understand the struggles they have after losing her. It was really very well done in my opinion and made the story flow almost magically and quickly. The characters are raw, real and easy to connect to.

This is a beautiful story of love, loss and the ties that bind us that I won't soon forget. I enjoyed every minute of it! I have found a new author to enjoy.

About the Author

Therese's debut novel, The Last Will of Moira Leahy, was published in 2009 by Shaye Areheart books (Random House). Her second novel, The Moon Sisters, will be published by Crown (Penguin Random House) in March 2014.

Therese is the co-founder of Writer Unboxed, a blog for writers about the craft and business of fiction. Before turning to novels, she was a researcher and writer for Prevention magazine, and then a freelance writer. She’s had hundreds of articles on nutrition and fitness published in consumer magazines and online.

She has a master's degree in psychology.

Aside from writing, Therese’s favorite things include music, art, crab legs, Whose Line is it Anyway?, dark chocolate, photography, unique movies and novels, people watching, strong Irish tea, and spending time with her husband, two kids and their bouncy Jack Russell.

Website-http://ThereseWalsh.com