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Home with My Sisters
Faith, Hope, and Joy. As children, the Garland sisters seemed to fit together as seamlessly as their names. Banding together helped them survive their free-spirited parents, who moved from place to place and whim to whim, until their father took off for good. But as the girls grew up, they became virtual strangers.
This Christmas, they intend to spend the holidays in their usual way: far apart. But their ailing grandmother wants her girls around her once more, and Hope, always the peacemaker, convinces her reluctant sisters to travel to Leavenworth, Washington. Hope is immediately charmed by the unique setting, modeled on a Bavarian village, and by her grandmother’s handsome, mysterious neighbor. Still, there’s scant trace of celebration within the Garland family. Joy’s main motivation for visiting is to secure start-up funds for a coffee shop. Faith, oblivious to her children’s unhappiness, is waiting until the holidays are over to announce that her marriage is over and she has a new love. With a festive schedule of candy-cane martinis, hot tubs, and snowball fights, Hope tries to expose and heal old resentments, but moving forward as a family will take more than a little seasonal goodwill.
Against a stunning winter backdrop, Mary Carter brings rare insight to the deep and complicated nature of sisterhood—a bond that endures far beyond childhood, and can always bring us home again.
This Christmas, they intend to spend the holidays in their usual way: far apart. But their ailing grandmother wants her girls around her once more, and Hope, always the peacemaker, convinces her reluctant sisters to travel to Leavenworth, Washington. Hope is immediately charmed by the unique setting, modeled on a Bavarian village, and by her grandmother’s handsome, mysterious neighbor. Still, there’s scant trace of celebration within the Garland family. Joy’s main motivation for visiting is to secure start-up funds for a coffee shop. Faith, oblivious to her children’s unhappiness, is waiting until the holidays are over to announce that her marriage is over and she has a new love. With a festive schedule of candy-cane martinis, hot tubs, and snowball fights, Hope tries to expose and heal old resentments, but moving forward as a family will take more than a little seasonal goodwill.
Against a stunning winter backdrop, Mary Carter brings rare insight to the deep and complicated nature of sisterhood—a bond that endures far beyond childhood, and can always bring us home again.
374 pages, Paperback
Published September 27, 2016
29 people are currently reading
514 people want to read
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Mary Carter
64 books198 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
September 27, 2016
A special thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mary Carter delivers some magical Christmas spirit with a "non-traditional" family--HOME WITH MY SISTERS —A heartwarming, twisty, quirky, and witty story of secrets, sisters, family, life, relationships, and mystery; with a modern day, “top-secret” holiday twist.
Yvette Garland is dying. Cancer. She wants to spend it with her granddaughters. The Garland sisters. Is to too much to ask to enjoy her last days on earth with her three beautiful granddaughters? She has not seen them since they were younger girls.
Her only son died around Christmas. (the girls' father). She lost her three grandchildren, too. She has not celebrated a Christmas since. She hates the tradition, but she is dying. It might be her last one.
Yvette told her young good looking neighbor, Austin Rhodes her last wish was to find her three granddaughters and bring them to her for one last Christmas. She would like to postpone her death until Easter, but she had no control over such things.
The three granddaughters-sisters: Faith, Hope, and Joy. Austin goes in search of the three sisters to bring them to his neighbor for her dying wish.
She believes (her son) is reaching out to her. She has to tell them the truth. She only has a photo taken in the middle of the summer even though they had staged the photo with a fake Christmas tree. The girl's mother had taken them away from their father, from her. Her daughter in law had destroyed their lives. The girls thought he was a drunk who abandoned them.
Presently Faith is 32, Hope 28, and Joy, 24. She made him a deal. If he would find the girls, there would be no Christmas. No tree, decorations, singing—she would not be spending her last days or weeks mired in a commercial mess. If they follow her rules, she will leave the house to the three of them.
To the girl’s surprise, they did not even know they had a paternal grandmother and hopefully she would tell them where to find their father.
Faith was the older protective sister, a girly-girl all rolled into one. Hope felt safe around Faith and the baby sister they took care of. The girls were inseparable when they were young. The Three Musketeers. They grew up without their father. Their mother did not like their grandmother.
The girls went separate ways when they were older. Faith fled to California at seventeen. Hope had stuck around for Joy. Joy was the wilder one. However, as she got older she resisted Hope’s efforts to mother her. Joy ran off to Seattle the minute she turned eighteen. They stay in touch via social media and Facebook.
However, the girl’s father did not leave them as they thought according to their grandmother. He died in a car accident going after his girls when his wife took off with them to Florida. They never knew. This is what their grandmother tells them.
Will Yvette make it to Christmas? Is she telling the girls the truth, or does she have her own agenda? Now the girls are stuck with their grandmother, using the house to force them all together. Granny had rules. So many unanswered questions.
The trip brings Mr. Jingles, Christmas hope, cheer, healing, self-discovery, secrets, wit, romance, new friends, family and surprises for the Garland Girls. This could be the "worst and best" of Christmases of their lives. Each sister has their own fears, desires, loves, and losses.
The joys of sisterhood:
“Older Sister: I make the rules.
(Like this one since I am the oldest).
Middle Sister: I’m the reason we have rules.
Younger Sister: The rules don’t apply to me."
Not your everyday Christmas story— similar to a holiday comedy movie with an edgy cast of colorful characters! From mental illness, suicide, divorce, gender, racism, and lots of Xanax with flawed characters. It was a joy reading Mary Carter’s Christmas modern holiday novel. She writes funny and quirky mixed with warmhearted characters.
I had the privilege of reading one of the author's books several years ago and found it quite entertaining (she has such a wild imagination)! Since I do not read a lot of women’s fiction or romance (more thrillers, mystery, suspense), was not on my radar. However, when I saw this stunning front cover, and the author’s name-- was immediately drawn to it, and was delighted to snag an advanced reading copy!
Sisters, bonds, dysfunction, emotions, family, and their complex relationships. (with lots of heart). If you are looking for a "fun" contemporary holiday read (especially if you live in South Florida) like myself, where we live vicariously through winter books with snow; since we have palm trees and sun, year-round (of course, I am not complaining). Put this one on your holiday list. Entertaining!
If you enjoy Dorothea Benton Frank “West coast instead of East”, you will love Mary Carter’s HOME WITH MY SISTERS.
JDCMustReadBooks
Mary Carter delivers some magical Christmas spirit with a "non-traditional" family--HOME WITH MY SISTERS —A heartwarming, twisty, quirky, and witty story of secrets, sisters, family, life, relationships, and mystery; with a modern day, “top-secret” holiday twist.
Yvette Garland is dying. Cancer. She wants to spend it with her granddaughters. The Garland sisters. Is to too much to ask to enjoy her last days on earth with her three beautiful granddaughters? She has not seen them since they were younger girls.
Her only son died around Christmas. (the girls' father). She lost her three grandchildren, too. She has not celebrated a Christmas since. She hates the tradition, but she is dying. It might be her last one.
Yvette told her young good looking neighbor, Austin Rhodes her last wish was to find her three granddaughters and bring them to her for one last Christmas. She would like to postpone her death until Easter, but she had no control over such things.
The three granddaughters-sisters: Faith, Hope, and Joy. Austin goes in search of the three sisters to bring them to his neighbor for her dying wish.
She believes (her son) is reaching out to her. She has to tell them the truth. She only has a photo taken in the middle of the summer even though they had staged the photo with a fake Christmas tree. The girl's mother had taken them away from their father, from her. Her daughter in law had destroyed their lives. The girls thought he was a drunk who abandoned them.
Presently Faith is 32, Hope 28, and Joy, 24. She made him a deal. If he would find the girls, there would be no Christmas. No tree, decorations, singing—she would not be spending her last days or weeks mired in a commercial mess. If they follow her rules, she will leave the house to the three of them.
To the girl’s surprise, they did not even know they had a paternal grandmother and hopefully she would tell them where to find their father.
Faith was the older protective sister, a girly-girl all rolled into one. Hope felt safe around Faith and the baby sister they took care of. The girls were inseparable when they were young. The Three Musketeers. They grew up without their father. Their mother did not like their grandmother.
The girls went separate ways when they were older. Faith fled to California at seventeen. Hope had stuck around for Joy. Joy was the wilder one. However, as she got older she resisted Hope’s efforts to mother her. Joy ran off to Seattle the minute she turned eighteen. They stay in touch via social media and Facebook.
However, the girl’s father did not leave them as they thought according to their grandmother. He died in a car accident going after his girls when his wife took off with them to Florida. They never knew. This is what their grandmother tells them.
Will Yvette make it to Christmas? Is she telling the girls the truth, or does she have her own agenda? Now the girls are stuck with their grandmother, using the house to force them all together. Granny had rules. So many unanswered questions.
The trip brings Mr. Jingles, Christmas hope, cheer, healing, self-discovery, secrets, wit, romance, new friends, family and surprises for the Garland Girls. This could be the "worst and best" of Christmases of their lives. Each sister has their own fears, desires, loves, and losses.
The joys of sisterhood:
“Older Sister: I make the rules.
(Like this one since I am the oldest).
Middle Sister: I’m the reason we have rules.
Younger Sister: The rules don’t apply to me."
Not your everyday Christmas story— similar to a holiday comedy movie with an edgy cast of colorful characters! From mental illness, suicide, divorce, gender, racism, and lots of Xanax with flawed characters. It was a joy reading Mary Carter’s Christmas modern holiday novel. She writes funny and quirky mixed with warmhearted characters.
I had the privilege of reading one of the author's books several years ago and found it quite entertaining (she has such a wild imagination)! Since I do not read a lot of women’s fiction or romance (more thrillers, mystery, suspense), was not on my radar. However, when I saw this stunning front cover, and the author’s name-- was immediately drawn to it, and was delighted to snag an advanced reading copy!
Sisters, bonds, dysfunction, emotions, family, and their complex relationships. (with lots of heart). If you are looking for a "fun" contemporary holiday read (especially if you live in South Florida) like myself, where we live vicariously through winter books with snow; since we have palm trees and sun, year-round (of course, I am not complaining). Put this one on your holiday list. Entertaining!
If you enjoy Dorothea Benton Frank “West coast instead of East”, you will love Mary Carter’s HOME WITH MY SISTERS.
JDCMustReadBooks
April 28, 2025
I enjoyed this book because it showed that no matter how dysfunctional a family is in the end they all came together and supported one another. I especially liked the ending.
August 30, 2016
What a wonderful Christmas story from Mary Carter. This is the first book of her's that I've read and I am so glad it was available to preview. Faith, Hope and Joy are not the closest of sisters but when their paternal grandmother asks them to visit her before she dies they decide to visit her over Christmas. They all are motivated by different reasons including divorce, need of money and a breakup with a boyfriend. Yvette has cancer and knows her days are numbered and she doesn't care what motivates her granddaughters, she just wants them to visit so she can settle her will. One of the best stories I've read about families coming back together. A great modern Christmas tale set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I will be picking this up as a stocking stuffer for all the readers on my list.
May 19, 2018
Hope has tried to convince her sisters, Faith and Joy, to get together at Christmas, but they always have excuses. This year, their paternal grandmother contacts Hope to say that she is terminally ill and would like to see her granddaughters one last time. The women's father disappeared from their lives years ago and the women hope that their grandmother has answers for them, so they agree to visit their grandmother.
February 4, 2017
One of her best.
May 25, 2022
Good story, how sisters can misunderstand each other
August 26, 2018
Three sisters, just 4 years apart. Faith, Hope, and Joy. There were always close. That’s what they remember most. Faith and Hope remember their parents arguing a lot. They remember the drinking. Faith and Hope remember when their father just disappeared and they were left alone with their mother and the baby, Joy. They weren’t just close. They took over the care of each other when their mother would go on drinking binges and excursions with a new male friend from time to time. Faith, being the oldest, carried the biggest burden; but when she was just 17 she became pregnant and left suddenly.
Hope and Joy were left behind and Hope couldn’t understand how her big sister could have just abandoned the two younger ones. She did the best she could as the now oldest sister, but Joy, the wild child also left as soon as she was old enough. Eventually, Hope realized that she too, must strike out on her own.
Now, Faith is 32. Hope is 28 and Joy is 24. The girls have infrequent contact, but it’s always been Hope’s hope to get the three of them together for Christmas. Christmas is Hope’s favorite holiday and she looks forward to the winter season for that reason. Unfortunately, quick emails, short and curt phone calls, and trolling Facebook pages aren’t the best ways to plan a holiday get together. Never mind that the girls’ mother, while still around, isn’t the one to initiate any kind of family gathering.
Hope’s chance comes to realize her dream of a Christmas with her sisters when she is summoned by a handsome young man from Leavenworth, WA at the wish of their father’s dying mother. What??? They have a grandmother? Their father’s mother is still alive? Why haven’t they known this? Why now is she coming forward? Does she know where their father is or what happened to him?
Hope is ready to go. All she has to do is convince her sisters to go as well. It will mean leaving their own west coast homes for a bit, but it isn’t that far. Better yet, it is the Christmas season. They can finally spend Christmas together!
Well, that invitation isn’t met with the enthusiasm she was expecting. Both Faith and Joy refuse to go. They have the same questions as Hope, but they have moved on. Go see a dying mean old lady (the only memory Faith has is of a witchy, critical, hard-drinking woman, that she met when she was about 8 years old. No thank you. Joy is interested in becoming an entrepreneur and establishing her own business. Go see an old woman in an old rickety home out in the country? No thank you. Well…Hope is going. She wants to meet the woman and question her about the father they know so little about. Of course, the fact that Hope might inherit something that would leave out the other two, is just the way to get Faith and Joy to go as well.
Once there, it turns out that Grandma has done pretty well for herself. She lives in a quaint Bavarian style town in a pretty impressive log home on an impressive amount of acreage. She has done well and she is ready to leave it all to the three granddaughters, but they must agree to her terms. Not as easy as it sounds, especially when Hope is so excited to celebrate Christmas in this quaintly decorated for the holidays town. You see, the rule is…..no Christmas!
This is the kind of book that has lots of layers to the stories behind the characters. There are secrets and grudges. There is sibling rivalry and resentment. There is sadness and anger. There are answers just waiting to be discovered…if the right questions are asked, and if the right methods are used to find them.
I loved this sweet, sad, and even joyful story. The three girls were so different and yet each one's character was so real. So real, that I wanted to hug Hope, shake Faith, and just completely ditch Joy. In the end, I finally got to understand the oldest and the youngest much better; and I may have ended up liking them after all. Maybe.
I loved taking the journey of getting answers and of finding the way back to each other as I went along with the girls and their feisty grandmother. There are twists and turns, laughs and tears, ups and downs along the way. Just like real life. It was heartwarming and real. Throw in the huge, clumsy stray dog and the good-looking neighbor, the wonderful winter landscape, and it was even better. Oh, and Christmas. I love Christmas too!
Hope and Joy were left behind and Hope couldn’t understand how her big sister could have just abandoned the two younger ones. She did the best she could as the now oldest sister, but Joy, the wild child also left as soon as she was old enough. Eventually, Hope realized that she too, must strike out on her own.
Now, Faith is 32. Hope is 28 and Joy is 24. The girls have infrequent contact, but it’s always been Hope’s hope to get the three of them together for Christmas. Christmas is Hope’s favorite holiday and she looks forward to the winter season for that reason. Unfortunately, quick emails, short and curt phone calls, and trolling Facebook pages aren’t the best ways to plan a holiday get together. Never mind that the girls’ mother, while still around, isn’t the one to initiate any kind of family gathering.
Hope’s chance comes to realize her dream of a Christmas with her sisters when she is summoned by a handsome young man from Leavenworth, WA at the wish of their father’s dying mother. What??? They have a grandmother? Their father’s mother is still alive? Why haven’t they known this? Why now is she coming forward? Does she know where their father is or what happened to him?
Hope is ready to go. All she has to do is convince her sisters to go as well. It will mean leaving their own west coast homes for a bit, but it isn’t that far. Better yet, it is the Christmas season. They can finally spend Christmas together!
Well, that invitation isn’t met with the enthusiasm she was expecting. Both Faith and Joy refuse to go. They have the same questions as Hope, but they have moved on. Go see a dying mean old lady (the only memory Faith has is of a witchy, critical, hard-drinking woman, that she met when she was about 8 years old. No thank you. Joy is interested in becoming an entrepreneur and establishing her own business. Go see an old woman in an old rickety home out in the country? No thank you. Well…Hope is going. She wants to meet the woman and question her about the father they know so little about. Of course, the fact that Hope might inherit something that would leave out the other two, is just the way to get Faith and Joy to go as well.
Once there, it turns out that Grandma has done pretty well for herself. She lives in a quaint Bavarian style town in a pretty impressive log home on an impressive amount of acreage. She has done well and she is ready to leave it all to the three granddaughters, but they must agree to her terms. Not as easy as it sounds, especially when Hope is so excited to celebrate Christmas in this quaintly decorated for the holidays town. You see, the rule is…..no Christmas!
This is the kind of book that has lots of layers to the stories behind the characters. There are secrets and grudges. There is sibling rivalry and resentment. There is sadness and anger. There are answers just waiting to be discovered…if the right questions are asked, and if the right methods are used to find them.
I loved this sweet, sad, and even joyful story. The three girls were so different and yet each one's character was so real. So real, that I wanted to hug Hope, shake Faith, and just completely ditch Joy. In the end, I finally got to understand the oldest and the youngest much better; and I may have ended up liking them after all. Maybe.
I loved taking the journey of getting answers and of finding the way back to each other as I went along with the girls and their feisty grandmother. There are twists and turns, laughs and tears, ups and downs along the way. Just like real life. It was heartwarming and real. Throw in the huge, clumsy stray dog and the good-looking neighbor, the wonderful winter landscape, and it was even better. Oh, and Christmas. I love Christmas too!
December 21, 2025
I picked up this book because I was looking for some Christmas reading. Also, I like reading books about sisters - I'm the oldest of 3, and this book also features 3 sisters, Faith, Hope, and Joy (yes, really!). The story is mostly told from Joy's perspective but occasionally switches to one of the other sisters as well as to the supporting characters. The basic plot is that the sisters, who haven't spent Christmas together in years, wind up together for the holidays when their paternal grandmother, who they haven't seen since they are children. The girls also haven't seen their father in all that time, as he disappeared when they were young. So the story includes a bit of a mystery. The writing is decent, but most of the characters are pretty unsufferable, which is distracting. Oddly, I found myself both interested and bored at the same time. As a holiday read, it was fine, not as inane as some. If you enjoy reading about a lot of family drama (with a bit of family trauma thrown in), then this might be a good choice.
December 22, 2022
From the start, this story's plot was too predictable. Of course, Joy was going to fall for Austin. Of course, Roger was their father. Of course, the Christmas theme was way, way overdone - really overdone, like a Hallmark movie on steroids. Puns and Xmas lines on every other page. Stop.
The bickering between the three sisters got old quick. I especially disliked the switch from fighting to teasing and laughing within a few paragraphs. The sisters were completely unlikable characters. Joy was a brat; Faith was a snob; Hope was just annoying. The author tried to cram too many conflicts into one story while trying to incorporate themes of suicide, teenage angst, family drama, and same sex relationships. Yvette's death was so anti-climactic.
I read this whole book. Yes, I did. And I would recommend it to no one. Not sure what else this author has written, but if it's anything like this story, no thanks.
The bickering between the three sisters got old quick. I especially disliked the switch from fighting to teasing and laughing within a few paragraphs. The sisters were completely unlikable characters. Joy was a brat; Faith was a snob; Hope was just annoying. The author tried to cram too many conflicts into one story while trying to incorporate themes of suicide, teenage angst, family drama, and same sex relationships. Yvette's death was so anti-climactic.
I read this whole book. Yes, I did. And I would recommend it to no one. Not sure what else this author has written, but if it's anything like this story, no thanks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2017
People often throw out the term "dysfunctional family" when describing the relationships they have with family members. This story presents the definition of "dysfunctional family".
The author takes a family fraught with problems and somehow in less than 400 pages brings them together. I'm not saying she has solved all their problems, because that would really be unrealistic, but they have a much better relationship with each other by the end of this book.
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes to read.
The author takes a family fraught with problems and somehow in less than 400 pages brings them together. I'm not saying she has solved all their problems, because that would really be unrealistic, but they have a much better relationship with each other by the end of this book.
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes to read.
March 1, 2021
Another new author for me. Story of three sisters, totally dysfunctional family. Middle sister wants to spend Christmas together. Others don't. Grandmother they did not know much about sent for them all to come to her home as she was terminal and had a very short time to live. They did. It was such a good story I did not want to put it down. I will definitely be reading lots more of this author. Loved the book. Would recommend it highly.
January 5, 2024
I enjoyed some of the banter throughout the book and the overarching story line was fine. It was a bit predictable and cheesy at times (fine for a Christmas book!). Some story lines, though, were just too heavy for a Christmas read, in my opinion. It simply didn't allow for a proper resolution. And one conclusion in particular simply didn't fit the Christmas spirit, in my opinion. There are other books/authors I will be reaching for next Christmas.
September 21, 2017
this book of course reminded me of my sisters , as I am one of four and the youngest. It was nicely written, comical, even the jabs at one another were comical and reminiscent of my younger days growing up. I especially liked the ending , as I am sure my sisters will too. Can't tell you why though, gotta read it!
December 14, 2017
This is a wonderful story to read around the holidays! This is my first time reading a novel by Mary Carter, and I am not disappointed. After the first few chapters, I thought it was just going to a cute simple story. However, as I went on, I loved it more and more with every page. I really hope the author considers a sequel.
July 31, 2017
All Hope has wanted for Christmas for the past several years is to spend it with her sisters, Faith and Hope. Is that too much to ask for? So far, the answer has been "yes," but she is determined this year will be different. And it definitely is.
October 6, 2022
So disappointed! Let’s see, someone is accused of being a racist, someone thinks she is a lesbian or bi-sexual, a teenager is cutting and calling the suicide prevention hotline…..come on! I’m over all of this bs! Authors and publishers need to do better with contemporary fiction!
June 20, 2017
I enjoyed this story and its characters. I would read more books by this author.
April 13, 2018
I have never read a book that stressed me out so much do to sibling rivalry which makes it such an awesome book!!! Very well written!!
April 27, 2018
What a great Christmas read but very glad I did not put it on my list! I would have missed a wonderful story had I misplaced my list. What a story...
January 7, 2019
Don't bother.
November 5, 2019
I liked it. Some twists and turns, but interesting.
February 9, 2020
A feel good book but not a lot of depth!
April 11, 2020
Amazing!
December 2, 2020
Not a bad book, but a few annoying and selfish characters. Was hoping for more of a light, fun Christmas story but this was more depressing than festive.
December 14, 2020
A very unexpected holiday read. Such a refreshing change of pace to have realistic family relationships and to see their growth and love.
December 20, 2020
Good read for the winter month!!!! Enjoyed it
April 7, 2021
Very fun, happy, sad and everything else loved it
June 10, 2021
I thought this was a very sweet book. The Garland's are a very dysfunctional family but it was nice to see it all come together for them in the end.
December 19, 2021
Great book, this not your run of the mill “Hallmark” story. Perfect Christmas read.
December 4, 2022
Wow, it’s one of those Christmas stories that engages you. For Christmas can be difficult for many, but it did have a positive ending.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews