Big & Lily: A Novel

by Lisa Roe

A sharply funny, deeply heartfelt novel about two sisters who discover the best way to find yourself is by getting lost.

For her entire life, Bridget “Big” Ackerman Petty has struggled to hold everything together—her kids, her husband, her demanding mother, all in dizzying orbit around her. While the kids are grown and her husband is retired, every day still feels like a to-do list she can never quite finish. Why is everything so effortless and easy for her sister Lily—a woman blessed with a magnetic personality, a thriving business, and a husband who adores her.

But when Lily discovers her husband’s been cheating, her “perfect” life implodes. Devastated and overwhelmed, she decides to run as far away as to Alaska to lose herself on a hardcore survival trek—and she’s dragged her reluctant sister Big along.

No cell service, no easy exits—just grizzlies, outdoor plumbing, and a group of strangers who know how to read a compass. As the sisters navigate freezing rivers, unmarked trails, and more than one near-death experience, the defenses they’ve used to protect themselves begin to crumble, and they’re forced to face everything they’ve spent decades resentment, regret, envy, and the terrifying possibility that the other one’s life might not be as easy as it looks.

Big & Lily is a laugh-out-loud, emotionally rich novel about second acts, sisterhood, and the unexpected ways we find ourselves when we’re truly lost.

Genres: Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 11, 2026

About the author

After graduating from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and spending many years as an advertising creative director and copywriter in New York City, Lisa Roe accepted the tougher job of stay-at-home mom and turned to writing fiction — mostly to entertain her kids, but then to tell her own stories. A classic first born, a reluctant empty nester, and a Dr. Doolittle wannabe, Lisa lives in New Jersey with her husband and three incorrigible dogs. She is the author of WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD and BIG & LILY.

Reviews

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Roe does it again with her signature humor on every page. Big and Lily is a hilarious thrill ride that had me doubling over in stitches. In Lily’s rash attempt to escape her messy life and drag her sister, Big, with her, she signs them up for an Alaskan wilderness adventure that is way out of their depth. What follows is a drama filled journey rife with complex sibling dynamics, hair-raising experiences, and jaw-dropping moments. Both sisters believe “the grass is greener” for the other and must face truths they’ve kept hidden, confide in each other, and set aside their differences to survive the unknown together. Wildly entertaining, heartfelt, and powerful—this story grabs hold of you and hangs with you well after the last page.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bridget was eight years old when Lily was born and she started taking care of her soon after her self-involved mother brought the baby home from the hospital. Lily couldn't pronounce Bridget's name, so soon she called her "Big" for big sister. Forty years later, Bridget is still taking care of Lily and Lily is still calling her Big. Bridget takes care of everybody else, too. She takes care of her two grown children who left the nest and then came back, needier than ever. She takes care of her husband who retired early and is at loose ends. And then there is her mother, who lives in a special little house in Bridget's back yard and shows up in Bridget's kitchen early every morning to get a cup of coffee, breakfast, and to present her list of demands. Since she's spent her entire life taking care of family, Big does it very well. She feels responsible for everyone's happiness and is sure they would all fall apart without her. Yes, she is exhausted, but that's just the way it is. Then Lily's life falls apart and she needs her big sister more than ever before. She wants Big to go away with her to help her heal. Even though Bridget is sure her family will collapse if she's not there to hold it all together, she agrees to go on the trip Lily arranges. It's a guided hiking and camping trip in Alaska. Lily assures her it will be fun. But Big has serious doubts, because neither of the New Jersey sisters has ever camped before. Or hiked. After a rough start, the sisters find strength they didn't know they had, and understanding they've needed for a long time. This is a story full of people you like even more as you get to know them. It's full of humor, but has enough serious moments to keep it real.
I read an advance copy. Lily & Big will publish August 2026.

[Meg McDade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given the chance to early read this book thanks to NetGalley.
This novel is a sharply funny and deeply heartfelt novel about two very different sisters; responsible Bridget “Big” and charming, impulsive Lily; who are thrust together on an unexpected survival trek in the Alaskan wilderness after Lily’s seemingly perfect life unravels. Through freezing rivers, grizzly encounters, and emotional reckonings far from modern comforts, the journey becomes a powerful metaphor for confronting long-buried resentment, envy, and the truths they’ve both avoided, ultimately revealing that sisterhood, second chances, and self-discovery can emerge in the most unexpected places. The book blends laugh-out-loud moments with poignant insights into family, identity, and the messy, beautiful work of finding yourself when you’re truly lost.
I could really relate to this story as it made me look into myself and the relationship I have with my sister.
The story felt both heartfelt and genuine, especially in the way it explored the complicated bond between the two sisters. Lisa Roe’s writing style is engaging and easy to follow, with a natural flow that balances humor and emotion beautifully. The dialogue feels realistic, making the characters relatable and alive, while the descriptive writing brings the setting and the sisters’ journey vividly to life. Overall, the author’s warm, thoughtful style made the book hard to put down and allowed the emotional moments to feel authentic and meaningful.
Thank you again to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this as an ARC.

[Madae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bridget aka Big is the responsible older sister, while Lily is the carefree, happy-go-lucky younger sister. Lily discovers that her husband is cheating on her and convinces (bullies) Big into traveling to Alaska for a guided tour/adventure. Lily sells it as a glamping adventure when in reality it's physically challenging and the accommodations are very basic. The sisters meet their group which include a father/teenage son duo, an older married couple, and a handsome actor. Lily wants to pretend her life hasn't just imploded while Big wants Lily to acknowledge her pain and start healing. Alaska offers the sisters a chance to challenge themselves and to reflect on their lives.

I love sister stories, but this one wasn't my favorite. I enjoyed it in the end, but I found both Bridget and Lily to be annoying. Bridget makes herself out to be a martyr by unnecessarily overmanaging her husband, grown kids, mother and Lily. Lily bullies Big into going to Alaska by saying how much she needs her, then proceeds to ignore Big and spend time with others on the tour. It wasn't until 65% through the book that the sisters started to redeem themselves in my eyes. Some of my favorite characters were Brick the tour guide and the older couple, Mimi and Luna. Their characters were loveable, calm and wise, where the sisters were frenetic.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, for this ARC.

[Allison Dorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishing company I was able to receive an advanced copy of this book to read and review voluntarily.

As an avid hiker myself, this kind of storyline is right up my alley. I enjoy reading books that are set in the outdoors and show how healing of a place the woods can be. This book definitely had the theme of healing relationships running throughout which I enjoyed.

I also like the humorous moments that were scattered through the book, but I did find the arguing between Big and Lilly starting to annoy me more than amuse me at the end of book. And while there was character development occurring, I feel that it could have been done in a more refined manner.

As an avid outdoorswoman, I found myself bristling when there were mentions of the characters picking wildflowers, throwing food at the bears, and running away from the moose. I think it was meant to portray the ineptitude of the characters in the outdoors, but it worries me that people will take this information and use it when they shouldn’t. I am happy there was a lot of emphasis placed on leave no trace though.

Overall, I think it was an okay book but not one that I see myself re-reading over and over.

[Kelsie Gilkey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big & Lily
Lisa Roe
Publication Date: August 18, 2026

When Lily, a 41 year old woman, finds out about her husband’s (and business partner’s) infidelity, she convinces her older sister, Big, to go on the trip of a lifetime with her. Big thinks they are going for a nice beach vacation so she is very surprised when Lily reveals they are going to Alaska. They are on this trip with a tour group who is an interesting mix of people.
Chaos ensues as these two not outdoorsy women embark on this “vacation.” Lily won’t talk about the betrayal of her husband and pushes Big away. Big is frustrated with Lily’s self destructive behavior and lack of forethought. They have the opportunity to strengthen their sisterly bonds or to let Alaska get the better of them.
I rate this book a 3. I enjoyed the sister relationship, I think that’s a fun dynamic to explore and not super common to read about. The setting was interesting and I think the setup for the book was an interesting premise. I do think the book dragged a bit as there are stretches where not much is happening. These parts felt repetitive. Overall it was still a fun read! Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC!!

[Kate Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Roe’s debut novel was one of the most delightful books I read the year it came out, and I have been on the edge of my seat waiting for a new book from her. BIG & LILY did not disappoint!

Two fortysomething sisters embark on a wilderness hiking excursion in Alaska with no preparation and no proper expectations. What could go wrong? Straitlaced, everything-is-solved-with-a-list Big/Bridget feels manipulated into accompanying her younger sister Lily on a journey of discovery after Lily learns of her husband’s infidelity.

Soon, Lily’s assurances that the trip will be more like glamping with beautiful wilderness are proven utterly wrong. Obstacles abound, from lost luggage to fending off bears to slipping into freezing bodies of water. The sisters aren’t sure their relationship will emerge from this adventure intact.

I loved this story of sisterhood and second chances to pursue your dreams, along with the humorous/terrifying moments Big and Lily face along with their newly-formed trail family.

THANK YOU to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the ARC of this beautiful book!

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Big & Lily by Lisa Roe. I received this copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Bridget Petty, or Big to her family has spent most of her adult life being Mom. Her two kids, though grown and with jobs, her Mother, her husband and her younger sister, Lily rely on Big for so many parts of their own lives.

So when Lily discovers her husband Eric has been cheating with an employee of theirs, she decides that she and Big need an adventure, so she books them on a week long camping/hiking trip to Alaska.

There's a lot of self-discovery on the parts of many of the characters, Their hiking group includes a dad and his teenage son, a B list actor, and an older lesbian couple who have their own secrets. Against Big's better judgement, Lily decides to act like she's single and ready to mingle.

When Big's suitcase doesn't show up in Alaska it's clear there's going to be plenty of shenanigans on the trip. It's a nicely written story if not somewhat predicable The characters were well fleshed-out and the descriptions of the setting *almost* made me want to go on my own Alaskan adventure.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial publishing for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest opinion. This was a funny, light-hearted sister to sister adventure! It was full of relatable sibling attitude and birth order assigned expectations. I fully related to "Big," Lil's big sister and how she cares for an looks out for her sister, her mother, her husband and children. It's overwhelming to say the least and Big is able to handle all of it with hilarious mishaps along the way. I would absolutely recommend you read this in-between other more serious or tense thrillers just for the laughs. You won't regret it.

[Siobhangrant · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed watching each of the sisters develop through the course of this trip. I appreciated that the story focused on the work that each of them needed to do rather than focusing on the one that seemed to "need" the work at the beginning. The found family aspect of their fellow travelers was also nice to see and I liked that each of the other members of their group got their own stories. My general issue with the novel was that the fight between the two seemed to drag on a bit towards the end. Overall, a light enough read with some comedic aspects. Good for a book club.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story of two sister's relationship, Bridgett (Big) and Lily, and their growth through trials and tribulations together. The two decide to go on a "renewing" trip to Alaska where they encounter many hardships and come out the other side with new views and a different relationship to each other and the world. Makes you want to examine some of your own points of view. Certainly worth the read!

[Heather Putnam · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Lily feels like her life is falling apart and books a survival trip to Alaska, she has to drag her sister along! So they pack their giant suitcases and focus on surviving a week in the wilderness. The story is fun and I laughed out loud several times but it also made me think. It was a great reminder that even we we feel lost sometimes, our story isn't over yet.

[Teale LaRosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cute story about two sisters and their humorous experience on an Alaskan wilderness trip that they were wholly unprepared for. Throughout their adventures, each of them evolve and grow as women and sisters, taking back to their “real” lives the lessons that they learned from their Alaskan adventure.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Family relationships are complicated. Bridget (Big) and Lily are sisters, 8 years apart, and Big has always served as a surrogate mother for Lily. Their adventure in Alaska after Lily gets some life-altering news is engrossing, touching, and sometimes nerve-wracking. A quick, enjoyable read.

[Suzanne Gaby-Biegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight! The characters were real but likable; the dialog genuine and witty. The plot sped along to a satisfying conclusion. I felt like I was in Alaska myself, but without the dreaded prop plane experience. Treat yourself to this warm, fun adventure and buy a copy for your sister.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advance reader’s copy from Main Street Books in Davidson. I really related to the protagonist in this story. 3-3/4 stars.

[Rachael Baartmans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Netgalley early release:

Two women who have no business traveling to the Alaskan Wilderness. They endangered themselves, the group, and the guidos.

[Lisa Rosenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Roe has done it again. Her unique take on the Mom-com genre, first demonstrated in her debut, Welcome to the Neighborhood, absolutely shines in her sophomore offering Big and Lily. Roe’s gift is highlighting the absurdity in the ordinary snafus of family life: the chaos of getting-out-the door rituals, miscommunications, missing shoes, and mislaid car keys—all juxtaposed with painful realities like infidelity, infertility, and deep-seeded family resentments. I can’t count the number of times I laughed out loud while empathizing with the well-drawn characters’ struggles and conundrums.
Bridget Ackerman grew up caring for her younger sister, Lily, who gave her the nickname “Big,” short for “Big sister.” In adulthood, Big continues to be responsible for everyone in her family: her working adult children who live at home, her recently retired husband Tim who is often underfoot, her cat, also underfoot, and her aging mother, Ruth,
who lives in a capsule home in the middle of the yard. And now, Lily in the face of her
husband’s infidelity, has moved in too. A perennial plate spinner, governed by her to-do
lists and the needs and whims of everyone in the household, Big barely notices that she
has zero time to address her own needs or whims.
Then Lily—seeking an antidote for her marital troubles—books a wilderness trip to Alaska, about as far from the New Jersey-bred sisters’ comfort zones as you can get. But Big is too protective to let free-spirited Lily go on her own.

Though Big is accustomed to conquering household chaos, she is no match for the unruly Alaskan wilderness. The adjustment curve is steep, but the sisters learn themselves and one another anew during an oft-harrowing week of kayak-defying rapids, net-defying mosquitos, map-defying paths that disappear among the trees, intimidating moose, and belligerent-looking bears (who amusingly brawl over a dropped granola bar while the sisters look on in terror).

This is both a hilariously madcap misadventure story as well as soul searching one, as Big and Lily allow Alaska to work its magic and give them the gifts of new possibilities and new relationships with themselves and one another.

I highly recommend you preorder this book! Thank you to Harper-Collins, Net Galley and the author, Lisa Roe, for an early read.