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The Sisters Chase
A gripping novel about two sisters who are left homeless by their mother’s death and the lengths the fierce older sister will go to protect her beloved young charge
The hardscrabble Chase women—Mary, Hannah, and their mother Diane—have been eking out a living running a tiny seaside motel that has been in the family for generations, inviting trouble into their lives for just as long. Eighteen-year-old Mary Chase is a force of nature: passionate, beautiful, and free-spirited. Her much younger sister, Hannah, whom Mary affectionately calls “Bunny,” is imaginative, her head full of the stories of princesses and adventures that Mary tells to give her a safe emotional place in the middle of their troubled world.
But when Diane dies in a car accident, Mary discovers the motel is worth less than the back taxes they owe. With few options, Mary’s finely tuned instincts for survival kick in. As the sisters begin a cross-country journey in search of a better life, she will stop at nothing to protect Hannah. But Mary wants to protect herself, too, for the secrets she promised she would never tell—but now may be forced to reveal—hold the weight of unbearable loss. Vivid and suspenseful, The Sisters Chase is a whirlwind page-turner about the extreme lengths one family will go to find—and hold onto—love.
The hardscrabble Chase women—Mary, Hannah, and their mother Diane—have been eking out a living running a tiny seaside motel that has been in the family for generations, inviting trouble into their lives for just as long. Eighteen-year-old Mary Chase is a force of nature: passionate, beautiful, and free-spirited. Her much younger sister, Hannah, whom Mary affectionately calls “Bunny,” is imaginative, her head full of the stories of princesses and adventures that Mary tells to give her a safe emotional place in the middle of their troubled world.
But when Diane dies in a car accident, Mary discovers the motel is worth less than the back taxes they owe. With few options, Mary’s finely tuned instincts for survival kick in. As the sisters begin a cross-country journey in search of a better life, she will stop at nothing to protect Hannah. But Mary wants to protect herself, too, for the secrets she promised she would never tell—but now may be forced to reveal—hold the weight of unbearable loss. Vivid and suspenseful, The Sisters Chase is a whirlwind page-turner about the extreme lengths one family will go to find—and hold onto—love.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2017
313 people are currently reading
7990 people want to read
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May 5, 2017
"The onslaught of the truths would be like relentless waves, knocking and knocking and knocking her down the moment she found her feet to stand back up".
This is a finely crafted novel. It's difficult to put down. Sarah Healy sure knows how to build a page turner. It's haunting-unusual- sad - troubling - compelling - thought- provoking - suspenseful - and just darn good!
It's also highly imaginable. I think it would be a great movie. The characters and story are sure interesting enough. If this is a teen novel - well then I need to read more 'teen books'. To me - there are things in this book that 'adults' would 'think' about that might fly right over a teens head.
I sat and thought about this story awhile before attempting this review. I could spend more time discussing this story. It's easy enough to read - but many pauses in which to ponder.
There is something about the writing which I especially respect-- I've seen it before. There were many places throughout this novel where the author could have easily inserted her point of view. Her bias could have easily seeped through. Many choices were made by characters in this story - leaving us- ( the reader) - to judge and evaluate. The author never once gave hint to which side she favored. She allows room for the 'reader' to spend some time thinking about these people- the choices and consequences. I SO ADMIRE AUTHORS WHO DO THIS WELL!!
Two other books - and 'authors' - come to mind. T.C. Boyle in "The Tortilla Curtain" and Emily Ruskovich in "Idaho". In both books... the author never allows their opinion - points of view to influence the readers thoughts. We simply get the story of what is happening--period!!
In "The Sisters Chase", at the start of the novel.....From a shabby Hotel called "Sandy Bank".....
..........Mary Chase, a multilayered character, is 18 years old. Hannah Chase, her sister, is 4 years old. After their mother dies early in the book, a journey begins literally and figuratively for these sisters... for the next thirteen years. The girls leave the hotel -- a couple of jaw-dropping incidents occur even before they leave .... just enough to wet our appetites for the rest of this story.
We see sides of Mary early in the book - which 'test' our opinion of her. I also carried thoughts about the girl's mother --( and each of their different fathers). I was involved right away - paying close attention to all the details.
But soon Mary is Hannah's ( Hannah Banana or Bunny), sole protector and acting guardian. People do what they do to survive......
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich - 3 of them to chow down when starving is sometimes better than a 5-star fancy-dancy 'foodie' meal.
We meet other interesting characters ... The Dackard family: Ron, Tim, and Alice, are an interesting family.....(each family member could have their own story).....
My insides were ACHING being in their house. Everything that happens is 'creepy'.
We meet Stefan-- my heart also ached --( wishing and hoping but always worried) for him.... and the issues at hand.
Several other memorable characters and situations to keep us twisting our hair and biting our finger nails.
Mary and Hannah never stay in any one place to long-- Florida, Georgia, Rhode Island, California, - back and forth -
It's just a really deeply felt novel. Teen book? Really? Could have fooled me!! Very unsettling adult themes! Confident strong writing!!!
"I'm at the B&M Diner. Right by the Miami Herald. You're going to meet me here in three hours with ten thousand dollars in cash".
Thank You Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Netgalley, and Sarah Healy
This is a finely crafted novel. It's difficult to put down. Sarah Healy sure knows how to build a page turner. It's haunting-unusual- sad - troubling - compelling - thought- provoking - suspenseful - and just darn good!
It's also highly imaginable. I think it would be a great movie. The characters and story are sure interesting enough. If this is a teen novel - well then I need to read more 'teen books'. To me - there are things in this book that 'adults' would 'think' about that might fly right over a teens head.
I sat and thought about this story awhile before attempting this review. I could spend more time discussing this story. It's easy enough to read - but many pauses in which to ponder.
There is something about the writing which I especially respect-- I've seen it before. There were many places throughout this novel where the author could have easily inserted her point of view. Her bias could have easily seeped through. Many choices were made by characters in this story - leaving us- ( the reader) - to judge and evaluate. The author never once gave hint to which side she favored. She allows room for the 'reader' to spend some time thinking about these people- the choices and consequences. I SO ADMIRE AUTHORS WHO DO THIS WELL!!
Two other books - and 'authors' - come to mind. T.C. Boyle in "The Tortilla Curtain" and Emily Ruskovich in "Idaho". In both books... the author never allows their opinion - points of view to influence the readers thoughts. We simply get the story of what is happening--period!!
In "The Sisters Chase", at the start of the novel.....From a shabby Hotel called "Sandy Bank".....
..........Mary Chase, a multilayered character, is 18 years old. Hannah Chase, her sister, is 4 years old. After their mother dies early in the book, a journey begins literally and figuratively for these sisters... for the next thirteen years. The girls leave the hotel -- a couple of jaw-dropping incidents occur even before they leave .... just enough to wet our appetites for the rest of this story.
We see sides of Mary early in the book - which 'test' our opinion of her. I also carried thoughts about the girl's mother --( and each of their different fathers). I was involved right away - paying close attention to all the details.
But soon Mary is Hannah's ( Hannah Banana or Bunny), sole protector and acting guardian. People do what they do to survive......
A peanut butter and jelly sandwich - 3 of them to chow down when starving is sometimes better than a 5-star fancy-dancy 'foodie' meal.
We meet other interesting characters ... The Dackard family: Ron, Tim, and Alice, are an interesting family.....(each family member could have their own story).....
My insides were ACHING being in their house. Everything that happens is 'creepy'.
We meet Stefan-- my heart also ached --( wishing and hoping but always worried) for him.... and the issues at hand.
Several other memorable characters and situations to keep us twisting our hair and biting our finger nails.
Mary and Hannah never stay in any one place to long-- Florida, Georgia, Rhode Island, California, - back and forth -
It's just a really deeply felt novel. Teen book? Really? Could have fooled me!! Very unsettling adult themes! Confident strong writing!!!
"I'm at the B&M Diner. Right by the Miami Herald. You're going to meet me here in three hours with ten thousand dollars in cash".
Thank You Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Netgalley, and Sarah Healy
June 25, 2017
When their mother dies, Mary is eighteen, her sister Hannah, whom she calls Bunny, is only four, and the two girls are left with virtually nothing. Mary is one determined young lady who will do anything to make sure she is able to take care of Bunny. Their love for each other is a beautiful thing and is what fuels this novel. Takes the reader from the East coast, to Florida and eventually to California and spans the sum of fourteen years. Mary does many things, eventually one that will cost her more than she wanted to pay, to enable the girls to live.
This novel very much depends on the readers acceptance of Mary, this is a very character driven novel. There are surprises at every turn and secrets that are slowly revealed, not that this is a slowly paced novel, it actually reads quite quick. It is in many ways a wonderful story about the kind of love that knows no boundaries. Mary is beautiful and not adverse to using this, in any way possible.
I took this story to heart, wanted them to find a place to settle, where Mary could find and accept what she is looking for. The stories Mary tells Hannah as she is grown up are beautiful, wishful. I very much enjoyed this story. Wish the ending could have been different but it fits the story. Heartwarming and sad.
ARC from HMH
Publishes June 27th.
This novel very much depends on the readers acceptance of Mary, this is a very character driven novel. There are surprises at every turn and secrets that are slowly revealed, not that this is a slowly paced novel, it actually reads quite quick. It is in many ways a wonderful story about the kind of love that knows no boundaries. Mary is beautiful and not adverse to using this, in any way possible.
I took this story to heart, wanted them to find a place to settle, where Mary could find and accept what she is looking for. The stories Mary tells Hannah as she is grown up are beautiful, wishful. I very much enjoyed this story. Wish the ending could have been different but it fits the story. Heartwarming and sad.
ARC from HMH
Publishes June 27th.
January 1, 2020
Last book of 2019- got it in just under the wire to hit my goal this year.
I bought this book as part of my BOTM subscription and just never got around to read it. Two sisters who unexpectedly lost their mother have to lean on each other. Mary is 18 and Hannah is 4, so Mary becomes the one to shoulder the burden and raise her little sister. They grew up without knowing who their fathers were and living in a rundown motel in Sandy Bank, NJ. Mary is beautiful and mysterious and uses her looks and body language to steal, lie and take whatever she has to, to get by. They move around a lot, up and down the East coast, being pulled in different directions.
Healy's writing is just as mysterious and interesting as Mary herself is. She pulled me into this story and I found myself holding my breath at times. Water was a main element connecting the times and the characters to one another. You can sense Mary's desperation to ensure that Hannah (Bunny is her nickname) is taken care of. I was rooting for Mary to figure it all out and to succeed, and with every setback I felt the disappointment in my core for these girls. I'm not sure how this one missed the hype it deserves because this was everything I never knew I wanted in a book. I did have some difficulty with the ending and Hannah/Bunny was super confusing for me (not sure why), but looking forward to picking up more of Healy's books.
I bought this book as part of my BOTM subscription and just never got around to read it. Two sisters who unexpectedly lost their mother have to lean on each other. Mary is 18 and Hannah is 4, so Mary becomes the one to shoulder the burden and raise her little sister. They grew up without knowing who their fathers were and living in a rundown motel in Sandy Bank, NJ. Mary is beautiful and mysterious and uses her looks and body language to steal, lie and take whatever she has to, to get by. They move around a lot, up and down the East coast, being pulled in different directions.
Healy's writing is just as mysterious and interesting as Mary herself is. She pulled me into this story and I found myself holding my breath at times. Water was a main element connecting the times and the characters to one another. You can sense Mary's desperation to ensure that Hannah (Bunny is her nickname) is taken care of. I was rooting for Mary to figure it all out and to succeed, and with every setback I felt the disappointment in my core for these girls. I'm not sure how this one missed the hype it deserves because this was everything I never knew I wanted in a book. I did have some difficulty with the ending and Hannah/Bunny was super confusing for me (not sure why), but looking forward to picking up more of Healy's books.
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June 1, 2017Are We There Yet?
By Judge Liberty Hardy
How far would you go to protect your younger sister? Which secrets would you keep, and what crimes would you commit?
When their mother dies in a car accident, the Chase sisters are left unmoored. With the deed to their sleepy Jersey Shore motel worth less than the paper it’s written on, and no other family to turn to, it falls on 18-year-old Mary to take care of her younger sister Hannah. With no reason to remain at the motel, they embark on a cross-country road trip, looking for a new home. But Mary makes increasingly erratic decisions which land them in dangerous situations and ultimately threaten their lives. Mary is clearly emotional and impulsive—or is there a method to her madness, a reason for her choices?
As Mary tries to outrun her past (impossible!), secrets old and new follow the Chase sisters and threaten to shatter the bonds of their small family. Will the sisters ever be able to settle down, or are they destined for a life of road trips, quick escapes, and broken dreams?
Healy’s portrayal of Mary and her doting little sister pulled on my heartstrings, and despite Mary’s questionable judgment, her love for Hannah shines off the pages. Should you decide to distrust Mary or simply give yourself over to her? You must decide for yourself. I found myself rooting for the sisters Chase to get a happy ending the whole way through the book.
Read more at https://www.bookofthemonth.com/the-si...
By Judge Liberty Hardy
How far would you go to protect your younger sister? Which secrets would you keep, and what crimes would you commit?
When their mother dies in a car accident, the Chase sisters are left unmoored. With the deed to their sleepy Jersey Shore motel worth less than the paper it’s written on, and no other family to turn to, it falls on 18-year-old Mary to take care of her younger sister Hannah. With no reason to remain at the motel, they embark on a cross-country road trip, looking for a new home. But Mary makes increasingly erratic decisions which land them in dangerous situations and ultimately threaten their lives. Mary is clearly emotional and impulsive—or is there a method to her madness, a reason for her choices?
As Mary tries to outrun her past (impossible!), secrets old and new follow the Chase sisters and threaten to shatter the bonds of their small family. Will the sisters ever be able to settle down, or are they destined for a life of road trips, quick escapes, and broken dreams?
Healy’s portrayal of Mary and her doting little sister pulled on my heartstrings, and despite Mary’s questionable judgment, her love for Hannah shines off the pages. Should you decide to distrust Mary or simply give yourself over to her? You must decide for yourself. I found myself rooting for the sisters Chase to get a happy ending the whole way through the book.
Read more at https://www.bookofthemonth.com/the-si...
June 2, 2017
This is a beautifully written story of two sisters surviving on the run after the death of their mother.
Eighteen-year-old Mary is gorgeous and survives through hard work that isn’t always legal. She takes care of her four-year-old sister Hannah with fierce loyalty. Their travels take them from the East Coast through the Midwest to California.
The story is told by going back and forth in time from when Hannah was born to different times in Hannah and Mary’s life. In that way it’s a modern history of the late seventies through the eighties. At some points it seemed there was an undercurrent of something sinister—I genuinely worried about whether the sisters would be OK. The story is also tinged with sadness over missed opportunities. It’s wonderful, however, to read a novel about strong women like Mary and their neighbor, Alice, a woman who was unable to have children of her own. Alice—Mrs. Pool—seems like a pushover, but she’s strong and heroic in her own way.
Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for this Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://theresaalan.net/blog
Eighteen-year-old Mary is gorgeous and survives through hard work that isn’t always legal. She takes care of her four-year-old sister Hannah with fierce loyalty. Their travels take them from the East Coast through the Midwest to California.
The story is told by going back and forth in time from when Hannah was born to different times in Hannah and Mary’s life. In that way it’s a modern history of the late seventies through the eighties. At some points it seemed there was an undercurrent of something sinister—I genuinely worried about whether the sisters would be OK. The story is also tinged with sadness over missed opportunities. It’s wonderful, however, to read a novel about strong women like Mary and their neighbor, Alice, a woman who was unable to have children of her own. Alice—Mrs. Pool—seems like a pushover, but she’s strong and heroic in her own way.
Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for this Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews, please visit: http://theresaalan.net/blog
August 14, 2017
4 stars out of 5
The Sisters Chase by Sarah Healy is a wonderfully enjoyable read. I didn’t want it to end.
When Diane is killed in a car accident early on in the book, she leaves behind two daughters, Mary and much younger Hannah. Finding out that the motel their mother owned owes more in back taxes than it’s worth, Mary has to find a way to keep herself and little sister taken care of. This leads to some interesting goings-on with how to get the money to start a new life and how to survive. But I won’t spoil it for you.
The book deals with how far love goes and what Mary, who loves Hannah fiercely, would to do to take care of her.
Interesting read and I recommend it.
Publication Date: 27 Jun 2017
Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for this Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
The Sisters Chase by Sarah Healy is a wonderfully enjoyable read. I didn’t want it to end.
When Diane is killed in a car accident early on in the book, she leaves behind two daughters, Mary and much younger Hannah. Finding out that the motel their mother owned owes more in back taxes than it’s worth, Mary has to find a way to keep herself and little sister taken care of. This leads to some interesting goings-on with how to get the money to start a new life and how to survive. But I won’t spoil it for you.
The book deals with how far love goes and what Mary, who loves Hannah fiercely, would to do to take care of her.
Interesting read and I recommend it.
Publication Date: 27 Jun 2017
Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for this Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 29, 2017
4 stars
As often is the case our lives can be broken into times of happiness and times of sadness. For the Chase sisters, there always seemed to be much of the sadness and little of the happiness. Orphaned and destitute when their mother dies, Mary and Hannah Chase leave their bankrupted seaside hotel and travel cross country.
Mary, the older sister, is a free spirit. She is young, beautiful, and determined to keep her sister Hannah safe and close. Mary's ability to survive is well tuned and she keeps Hannah happy and content by telling imaginative stories of the two of them being princesses. It keeps Hannah happy and provides a safety net for her. Hannah, creative and childlike dotes on Mary's stories and reaches that safe emotional space that Mary so desires for her.
Mary's one instinct is to protect Hannah. She often calls her Bunny. She will go to any length in order to see that her sister is provided for, sometimes stealing, sometimes selling herself, always placing Hannah first and foremost. The girls continually chase a dream. However, Mary has secrets and she runs from them as well.
Many times this book moved in ways that sadness so weighed upon it. The love that each girl had for each other propelled them forward to an end that was both vivid and ultimately sad. One wonders how far a family member will go to protect another. In this novel, Mary shows us just how far her love extends. You can outrun many things in life but oftentimes secrets do catch up with you and then you find that there exists no where to run anymore. This novel will break your heart.
Thank you to NetGallery and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing an advanced copy of this novel for an unbiased review.
As often is the case our lives can be broken into times of happiness and times of sadness. For the Chase sisters, there always seemed to be much of the sadness and little of the happiness. Orphaned and destitute when their mother dies, Mary and Hannah Chase leave their bankrupted seaside hotel and travel cross country.
Mary, the older sister, is a free spirit. She is young, beautiful, and determined to keep her sister Hannah safe and close. Mary's ability to survive is well tuned and she keeps Hannah happy and content by telling imaginative stories of the two of them being princesses. It keeps Hannah happy and provides a safety net for her. Hannah, creative and childlike dotes on Mary's stories and reaches that safe emotional space that Mary so desires for her.
Mary's one instinct is to protect Hannah. She often calls her Bunny. She will go to any length in order to see that her sister is provided for, sometimes stealing, sometimes selling herself, always placing Hannah first and foremost. The girls continually chase a dream. However, Mary has secrets and she runs from them as well.
Many times this book moved in ways that sadness so weighed upon it. The love that each girl had for each other propelled them forward to an end that was both vivid and ultimately sad. One wonders how far a family member will go to protect another. In this novel, Mary shows us just how far her love extends. You can outrun many things in life but oftentimes secrets do catch up with you and then you find that there exists no where to run anymore. This novel will break your heart.
Thank you to NetGallery and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing an advanced copy of this novel for an unbiased review.
November 9, 2024
The Sisters Chase
is the first book I've read by this author and it may be my last.
I was unsure how many ratings to give this book.
I wavered between one and two but in order for two stars to make sense, it would mean I liked a part or some parts of the story and sadly, that didn't apply here.
The title of the book is misleading, because its not really about the sisters Chase and their sisterly bond,
The story is painfully more Lifetime than thought provoking, humorous, dark or otherwise or fascinating.
It's a sad, cliche, often told tale of women making poor choices in men; you know the ones I'm talking about, they fall prey to their manly, pretty faces and meaningless small talk and seek to validate their low self esteem by needing a man to make them feel special.
Diane is the struggling mother of two daughters; the eldest, wild and willful Mary and the youngest, Hannah, nicknamed Bunny.
When Diane dies in a car accident, Mary and Hannah take to the road, where Mary does everything and anything, including seducing a relative and blackmailing him for hush money.
Their hobo way of life takes them across the US where Mary's lies and subterfuge finally culminates in an ending that any reader can see coming.
It wasn't difficult to dislike this book. There's nothing to like. That's the problem.
Diane is a young mother who was seduced by a young man visiting her father's motel.
She is a sad, uneducated woman whose hardships is not just a product of bad luck but poor decisions.
Mary, gorgeous and defiant, is a lot like her mother, simple minded, a bit ignorant.
She possesses artistic talent but this is barely touched upon by the author.
Instead, her naiveté and sexual chemistry with a young man gets her into the type of trouble typical of a young girl and, either due to the fact that she has no father, no self esteem, with no understanding that she is better than she gives herself credit for (or all of the above).
As a result, her life is consumed by this man, Stefan, and her poor decisions lead her to seeking him out, hoping to establish a life with him.
With the exception of Bunny, still too young for me to call out, Diane and Mary are no role models and Mary as a character never evolves or mature during the entire story.
All we bear witness to are demoralizing scenes of Mary stealing, obfuscating the truth, sleeping with men for money, seeking pleasure for pleasure's sake and dodging unwelcome men who are, naturally, obsessed with her dark and dangerous beauty.
Also, the random and brief appearance of Mary's sperm donor toward the end seems to suggest....what exactly?
That she wanted someone to notice her, to validate her existence? That she is alive and in this world?
And to what purpose?
The man is cruel and callous who barely acknowledges her, throwing Mary into a minor meltdown, forcing her hand even further into making a decision that will end her life prematurely.
The ridiculous relationship between Mary and Stef is about as believable as Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson's on air chemistry in FSoG.
Mary is instantly attracted to him; no problem, sexual chemistry is a real thing, but its hard to feel the love since when they met, Mary was 14 and what happened between them was statutory rape so barf.
2017 has been a bad year of one starred books for me, namely because most of the plots I've read recently revolve around stupid, supposedly smart women who do stupid things for men, or who need men to validate their existence or to feel special or yadda yadda yadda.
There are only five more months left in the year so I'm no longer hopeful my streak in lousy rated books will turn around but there's always next year!
I was unsure how many ratings to give this book.
I wavered between one and two but in order for two stars to make sense, it would mean I liked a part or some parts of the story and sadly, that didn't apply here.
The title of the book is misleading, because its not really about the sisters Chase and their sisterly bond,
The story is painfully more Lifetime than thought provoking, humorous, dark or otherwise or fascinating.
It's a sad, cliche, often told tale of women making poor choices in men; you know the ones I'm talking about, they fall prey to their manly, pretty faces and meaningless small talk and seek to validate their low self esteem by needing a man to make them feel special.
Diane is the struggling mother of two daughters; the eldest, wild and willful Mary and the youngest, Hannah, nicknamed Bunny.
When Diane dies in a car accident, Mary and Hannah take to the road, where Mary does everything and anything, including seducing a relative and blackmailing him for hush money.
Their hobo way of life takes them across the US where Mary's lies and subterfuge finally culminates in an ending that any reader can see coming.
It wasn't difficult to dislike this book. There's nothing to like. That's the problem.
Diane is a young mother who was seduced by a young man visiting her father's motel.
She is a sad, uneducated woman whose hardships is not just a product of bad luck but poor decisions.
Mary, gorgeous and defiant, is a lot like her mother, simple minded, a bit ignorant.
She possesses artistic talent but this is barely touched upon by the author.
Instead, her naiveté and sexual chemistry with a young man gets her into the type of trouble typical of a young girl and, either due to the fact that she has no father, no self esteem, with no understanding that she is better than she gives herself credit for (or all of the above).
As a result, her life is consumed by this man, Stefan, and her poor decisions lead her to seeking him out, hoping to establish a life with him.
With the exception of Bunny, still too young for me to call out, Diane and Mary are no role models and Mary as a character never evolves or mature during the entire story.
All we bear witness to are demoralizing scenes of Mary stealing, obfuscating the truth, sleeping with men for money, seeking pleasure for pleasure's sake and dodging unwelcome men who are, naturally, obsessed with her dark and dangerous beauty.
Also, the random and brief appearance of Mary's sperm donor toward the end seems to suggest....what exactly?
That she wanted someone to notice her, to validate her existence? That she is alive and in this world?
And to what purpose?
The man is cruel and callous who barely acknowledges her, throwing Mary into a minor meltdown, forcing her hand even further into making a decision that will end her life prematurely.
The ridiculous relationship between Mary and Stef is about as believable as Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson's on air chemistry in FSoG.
Mary is instantly attracted to him; no problem, sexual chemistry is a real thing, but its hard to feel the love since when they met, Mary was 14 and what happened between them was statutory rape so barf.
2017 has been a bad year of one starred books for me, namely because most of the plots I've read recently revolve around stupid, supposedly smart women who do stupid things for men, or who need men to validate their existence or to feel special or yadda yadda yadda.
There are only five more months left in the year so I'm no longer hopeful my streak in lousy rated books will turn around but there's always next year!
August 5, 2017
This was a pretty good story but it all fell apart for me at the end. Plus, a major pet peeve of mine: Stefan is a critically important character in the story but is never fully written/envelopes character. I was frustrated that he was only present to advance the plot for Mary and Hannah.
June 27, 2017
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
"The things she did to survive were automatic, reflexive, and once they were done, they were no more than dust in her tracks."
This book has on my mind since the moment I read the blurb. I just knew that this story would touch me deeply, and I wasn't wrong about that. The first part of the blurb sums this book up perfectly: "A gripping novel about two sisters who are left homeless by their mother’s death and the lengths the fierce older sister will go to protect her beloved young charge." This book was about family and the strong bond between sisters. Mary is just 18 when her mother dies in a car accident and she is left to care of her four year old sister Hannah. I just knew that their journey wouldn't be easy and that they would have to overcome so many obstacles. Mary sacrificed so much of herself to take care of Hannah, and she did it with no contempt against the most precious person in her life.
I loved their relationship so much, and the author did an incredible job in bringing their story to life. I was pulled in from the start and I just couldn't put the book down. I needed to know how their journey would go and eventually end. I was feeling everything Mary was feeling, when her heart broke, mine broke as well. I was able to fully connect with her and that is one of the reasons why I loved this book so much. There were so many heartbreaking scenes in this book that made it impossible for me to keep my eyes dry. There were also so many beautiful and uplifting scenes that had me smiling. I also loved how the author added a touch of romance to the story, I think that added an extra layer to the story. The Sisters Chase is a story I won't forget for a long time, and it is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. I do advise you to keep tissues close by because this book will have you on an emotional roller coaster. I still get tears in my eyes when I think of this book, it will take some time for me to recover.
"The things she did to survive were automatic, reflexive, and once they were done, they were no more than dust in her tracks."
This book has on my mind since the moment I read the blurb. I just knew that this story would touch me deeply, and I wasn't wrong about that. The first part of the blurb sums this book up perfectly: "A gripping novel about two sisters who are left homeless by their mother’s death and the lengths the fierce older sister will go to protect her beloved young charge." This book was about family and the strong bond between sisters. Mary is just 18 when her mother dies in a car accident and she is left to care of her four year old sister Hannah. I just knew that their journey wouldn't be easy and that they would have to overcome so many obstacles. Mary sacrificed so much of herself to take care of Hannah, and she did it with no contempt against the most precious person in her life.
I loved their relationship so much, and the author did an incredible job in bringing their story to life. I was pulled in from the start and I just couldn't put the book down. I needed to know how their journey would go and eventually end. I was feeling everything Mary was feeling, when her heart broke, mine broke as well. I was able to fully connect with her and that is one of the reasons why I loved this book so much. There were so many heartbreaking scenes in this book that made it impossible for me to keep my eyes dry. There were also so many beautiful and uplifting scenes that had me smiling. I also loved how the author added a touch of romance to the story, I think that added an extra layer to the story. The Sisters Chase is a story I won't forget for a long time, and it is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. I do advise you to keep tissues close by because this book will have you on an emotional roller coaster. I still get tears in my eyes when I think of this book, it will take some time for me to recover.
November 8, 2017
Stories where women are debilitatingly hung up on men just aren’t my thing.
June 23, 2017
First, I write reviews that are honest, short, and to the point. I do not feel the need to sit down for an extended period of time to add flowery words and excessive details that in my opinion adds little to a review.
This book had high potential to be an amazing book, yet it quickly turned into an over-all train wreck. I'm completely mind blown as to why people actually rated this book over 2 stars. Open your eyes- this book has several serious and critical issues! I will not list all the issues with this book because I would be sitting here for hours, and like I stated earlier my review will be honest, short, and to the point. Undoubtedly the prevalent issue with this book, is the author clearly has no consideration or empathy in regards to the concerns surrounding the subject of mental health and distinctly showed her intentional ignorance towards individuals who suffer directly or indirectly from mental illness.
This book had high potential to be an amazing book, yet it quickly turned into an over-all train wreck. I'm completely mind blown as to why people actually rated this book over 2 stars. Open your eyes- this book has several serious and critical issues! I will not list all the issues with this book because I would be sitting here for hours, and like I stated earlier my review will be honest, short, and to the point. Undoubtedly the prevalent issue with this book, is the author clearly has no consideration or empathy in regards to the concerns surrounding the subject of mental health and distinctly showed her intentional ignorance towards individuals who suffer directly or indirectly from mental illness.
August 7, 2017
A shallow, God-awful Lifetime movie filled with bad grammar, terrible cliches and zero character development.
October 7, 2018
My rating would be 2.5 - which for me equals "a bit over OK". This book gets pretty good ratings so it is me not the book :-). The story line was alright but I just could not like the older of the sisters, Mary. Not liking characters does not usually affect my rating for a book but here it did. She just seemed so unrealistic and unsympathetic, yuck. I did like the ending though so I brought my rating up from a 2. Movin on!
June 24, 2017
This was not my tea or jam or bread. It started with a flash forward chapter (I dislike these in general) which spoiled the book in a big way for me. And most of it just felt like a melodrama. But I didn't actively hate it, reading it was a chore but not a vile one.
August 31, 2017
*ARC book supplied by Houghton Mifflin in exchange for a review.*
Elder sister Mary and younger Hannah are The Sisters Chase. Their story begins with the birth of Hannah. But Life injects its unwanted influence on them as so often happens. How they choose to handle those influencers and deal with the consequences is revealed to us in their combined story.
I enjoyed this book and would have given it a 5-star rating, but I just couldn't get over the back-and-forth between time periods used as a device to move the plot along. As an avid movie watcher, I'm afraid that this method of telling a story is used ad nausea and, unfortunately, tainted my enjoyment of this book.
Also, the ending of the book seemed "rushed" and not as carefully developed as the rest of the book. It left my book-satisfaction feeling confused.
My slight dissatisfaction aside, I will add other works by author Sarah Healy to my BOOKS TO READ list.
Elder sister Mary and younger Hannah are The Sisters Chase. Their story begins with the birth of Hannah. But Life injects its unwanted influence on them as so often happens. How they choose to handle those influencers and deal with the consequences is revealed to us in their combined story.
I enjoyed this book and would have given it a 5-star rating, but I just couldn't get over the back-and-forth between time periods used as a device to move the plot along. As an avid movie watcher, I'm afraid that this method of telling a story is used ad nausea and, unfortunately, tainted my enjoyment of this book.
Also, the ending of the book seemed "rushed" and not as carefully developed as the rest of the book. It left my book-satisfaction feeling confused.
My slight dissatisfaction aside, I will add other works by author Sarah Healy to my BOOKS TO READ list.
June 24, 2017
June 23: I stayed up until 2:30 to finish this sucker, so you could say I loved it. Review to come!!
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to both Netgalley and Sarah Healy for this opportunity.
This book was hard hitting because of its material, but one trigger I thought I would mention is mental illness and all around difficult situations/horrible people. This is not one for those seeking good and respectable characters.
You know that feeling when you read a book that contains such deep and morally gray characters that you can’t help but think of them days and days after completing their story? THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BOOKS FOR ME. I was captivated from start to finish.
The Sisters Chase follows Mary and Hannah Chase who end up turning to a life of living on the road without a steady home after their mother’s death. This story highlights the difficulties that come along with this lifestyle as well as the different encounters they have with others and how their meetings change the story entirely.
Starting off, I just want to say how much I loved these characters. Mary is closed off and cunning and sometimes felt like an unreliable narrator. She loves her sister with all her heart and will do just about anything to protect her/ give her a better life. While I sat in shock at certain things that Mary did or had to deal with, I still had a connection with her and really loved getting to see where her story went. I also found it very interesting to see Hannah grow up and how she reacts to the life she has been thrown into. This story is very dark and comes with some not so nice situations. I instantly knew that this would make a perfect movie- I got “Girl on the Train” vibes.
NOW, I won’t mention the twist because, hello, huge spoiler, but WOW. I had my guess but I was still surprised at the reveal and how well the story ended up tying together. I wanted MORE.
One of my all time favorite dark mysteries now. Definitely pick it up on its release date if you want to find out all the secrets of the Chase sisters.
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to both Netgalley and Sarah Healy for this opportunity.
This book was hard hitting because of its material, but one trigger I thought I would mention is mental illness and all around difficult situations/horrible people. This is not one for those seeking good and respectable characters.
You know that feeling when you read a book that contains such deep and morally gray characters that you can’t help but think of them days and days after completing their story? THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BOOKS FOR ME. I was captivated from start to finish.
The Sisters Chase follows Mary and Hannah Chase who end up turning to a life of living on the road without a steady home after their mother’s death. This story highlights the difficulties that come along with this lifestyle as well as the different encounters they have with others and how their meetings change the story entirely.
Starting off, I just want to say how much I loved these characters. Mary is closed off and cunning and sometimes felt like an unreliable narrator. She loves her sister with all her heart and will do just about anything to protect her/ give her a better life. While I sat in shock at certain things that Mary did or had to deal with, I still had a connection with her and really loved getting to see where her story went. I also found it very interesting to see Hannah grow up and how she reacts to the life she has been thrown into. This story is very dark and comes with some not so nice situations. I instantly knew that this would make a perfect movie- I got “Girl on the Train” vibes.
NOW, I won’t mention the twist because, hello, huge spoiler, but WOW. I had my guess but I was still surprised at the reveal and how well the story ended up tying together. I wanted MORE.
One of my all time favorite dark mysteries now. Definitely pick it up on its release date if you want to find out all the secrets of the Chase sisters.
December 22, 2017
In a poorly executed attempt to add a twist, Sarah Healy leads people to believe mother Diane, not her daughter 14 yo Mary is the mother of Hannah/Bunny. I’d be surprised if any readers didn’t see through this. Diane dies four years later leaving Mary and Bunny to roam the country grifting and scamming people acting as sisters rather than mother and daughter.
I wanted to like Mary, but she wasn’t sympathetic. She did try to take care of Bunny so she had some capacity for love. She and Bunny lacked personality.
THE SISTERS CHASE is dreary. I don’t mind dark stories, but I at least want them to have some point or be interesting or make me feel something. Even Mary’s death near was boring. Big let down.
I wanted to like Mary, but she wasn’t sympathetic. She did try to take care of Bunny so she had some capacity for love. She and Bunny lacked personality.
THE SISTERS CHASE is dreary. I don’t mind dark stories, but I at least want them to have some point or be interesting or make me feel something. Even Mary’s death near was boring. Big let down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2017
I guess I'm in the minority here... I didn't feel like this story flowed well at all. It took me much longer to read than anticipated. Hoping my next book of the month is a more enticing pick.
July 11, 2017
4.5 stars - this was really good! I had so many "didn't see that coming" moments. Really well written and engaging book.
June 27, 2017
Book reviews and more on www.snazzybooks.com
The Sister's Chase is a beautifully written, absorbing novel about family, friendship and loyalty in c.1980’s America. Sisters Mary and Hannah have lost their mum in a car accident and there starts a lift of responsibility for Mary in looking after young Hannah whilst making her own mistakes in life. She is, after all, only a young adult herself, but she has so much responsibility on her shoulders.
Mary is what I’d imagine to be a ‘marmite’ character - you’ll either like and/or respect her fierce protection of Hannah and the lengths she’ll go to, to try and keep their heads above water financially, or you’ll hate her for the way she treats other people. Either way, I personally thought her often controversial behaviour to make for a really interesting read and added an element of danger to the story – when will her often dodgy behaviour have its repercussions for both sisters?
The story jumps around back and forwards in time, with some of the story focussed on time when their mother Diane was still alive (and this goes some way to explaining why Mary is the way she is and offers more context to the story) and another narrative portraying the ‘present day’. It’s easy to tell which narrative we’re reading as the chapters are marked with dates, so this avoids any potential confusion that some readers tend to dislike with this kind of narrative structure.
This is a fairly easy read, though not simple in its writing style – the sentences flow really well and the slow reveal of certain ‘secrets’ and elements kept me intrigued whilst also stopping the story from feeling like it wasn’t going anywhere (something that I often really dislike; some parts of this novel felt like it started to go this way for me, but the author soon pulled it back beautifully).
The sisters’ story here is heart-warming at times and poignant at others; you sort of feel like you’re missing something, that something is a little skewed... the skill of Sarah Healey's writing means that, even in parts where it doesn't feel like you're really learning anything, you still want to keep reading.
Definitely recommended.
Many thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
The Sister's Chase is a beautifully written, absorbing novel about family, friendship and loyalty in c.1980’s America. Sisters Mary and Hannah have lost their mum in a car accident and there starts a lift of responsibility for Mary in looking after young Hannah whilst making her own mistakes in life. She is, after all, only a young adult herself, but she has so much responsibility on her shoulders.
Mary is what I’d imagine to be a ‘marmite’ character - you’ll either like and/or respect her fierce protection of Hannah and the lengths she’ll go to, to try and keep their heads above water financially, or you’ll hate her for the way she treats other people. Either way, I personally thought her often controversial behaviour to make for a really interesting read and added an element of danger to the story – when will her often dodgy behaviour have its repercussions for both sisters?
The story jumps around back and forwards in time, with some of the story focussed on time when their mother Diane was still alive (and this goes some way to explaining why Mary is the way she is and offers more context to the story) and another narrative portraying the ‘present day’. It’s easy to tell which narrative we’re reading as the chapters are marked with dates, so this avoids any potential confusion that some readers tend to dislike with this kind of narrative structure.
This is a fairly easy read, though not simple in its writing style – the sentences flow really well and the slow reveal of certain ‘secrets’ and elements kept me intrigued whilst also stopping the story from feeling like it wasn’t going anywhere (something that I often really dislike; some parts of this novel felt like it started to go this way for me, but the author soon pulled it back beautifully).
The sisters’ story here is heart-warming at times and poignant at others; you sort of feel like you’re missing something, that something is a little skewed... the skill of Sarah Healey's writing means that, even in parts where it doesn't feel like you're really learning anything, you still want to keep reading.
Definitely recommended.
Many thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
September 19, 2017
This was a lovely and heartbreaking novel, but in a really good way. It is hard to talk about this book without giving up some important spoilers. Let it be said that there is a twist in the plot about halfway through that forces you to reexamine how you view the relationships in the story. I actually figured it out before then, but still wasn't 100% sure until later in the book.
Mary is an exceptionally beautiful and somewhat wild 14-year-old girl when her sister Hannah is born. She becomes like a mother to her when, 4 years later, their mother dies in a car accident. It is found that the mother was in debt and left no money to them. Mary uses her wiles and her beauty to create a life for them, essentially acting as Hannah's mother. They travel around the country, never staying in one place too long. Yet through it all, they maintain a deep and caring relationship and their love for each other keeps them going.
I will just say that maybe not everything that I wrote above was actually true, but you will have to read this wonderful novel to find out the truth of it. It was beautifully written, poetic at times. There were times where it seemed it might become a bit maudlin or lack a bit of forward motion in the narrative, but the author deftly threw in some new experience and direction that propelled the novel to its bittersweet and lovely conclusion.
Mary is an exceptionally beautiful and somewhat wild 14-year-old girl when her sister Hannah is born. She becomes like a mother to her when, 4 years later, their mother dies in a car accident. It is found that the mother was in debt and left no money to them. Mary uses her wiles and her beauty to create a life for them, essentially acting as Hannah's mother. They travel around the country, never staying in one place too long. Yet through it all, they maintain a deep and caring relationship and their love for each other keeps them going.
I will just say that maybe not everything that I wrote above was actually true, but you will have to read this wonderful novel to find out the truth of it. It was beautifully written, poetic at times. There were times where it seemed it might become a bit maudlin or lack a bit of forward motion in the narrative, but the author deftly threw in some new experience and direction that propelled the novel to its bittersweet and lovely conclusion.
July 30, 2017
I loved it from beginning to the end, one of the best book I've read recently. I didn't want to put it down, I could've read it in one sitting if I could and I resented every moment I had to stop reading to attend real life.
March 19, 2022
2.5 stars
Mary is trying to raise her young sister, Hannah, after their mother dies. For a decade or so, they travel around the United States in a $3200 Bronco (which never breaks down), overstaying their welcome time and time again. Mary repeatedly thinks only of herself, makes exquisitely poor decisions and then has to uproot them both to escape the consequences. They seem to be able to live for years on $10000 blackmail money, comfortably enough to turn down a subsequent $10000/month bribe. Hannah is able to ride a bike the first time and has been educated to the same level as her middle-school peers by Mary, who never graduated high school. While Hannah's looks are never described, Mary's incomparable beauty (alluded to over and over) allows her to get away with everything, including rudeness, manipulation and bigoted comments. Fantasy, on so many levels.
This is another example of that writing style which places the final chapter at the beginning in order to draw the reader in and create some sort of suspense but ultimately it is a sign that the author's plot is both slow and weak. The big reveal happens in the second chapter, making the rest of the 'adventure' lackluster.
The audio narrator, Rebecca Gibel, had a very robotic voice which often struck me as non-human.
Mary is trying to raise her young sister, Hannah, after their mother dies. For a decade or so, they travel around the United States in a $3200 Bronco (which never breaks down), overstaying their welcome time and time again. Mary repeatedly thinks only of herself, makes exquisitely poor decisions and then has to uproot them both to escape the consequences. They seem to be able to live for years on $10000 blackmail money, comfortably enough to turn down a subsequent $10000/month bribe. Hannah is able to ride a bike the first time and has been educated to the same level as her middle-school peers by Mary, who never graduated high school. While Hannah's looks are never described, Mary's incomparable beauty (alluded to over and over) allows her to get away with everything, including rudeness, manipulation and bigoted comments. Fantasy, on so many levels.
This is another example of that writing style which places the final chapter at the beginning in order to draw the reader in and create some sort of suspense but ultimately it is a sign that the author's plot is both slow and weak. The big reveal happens in the second chapter, making the rest of the 'adventure' lackluster.
The audio narrator, Rebecca Gibel, had a very robotic voice which often struck me as non-human.
May 3, 2017
The Sisters Chase is an instant bestseller! Yes, you heard it here first. I read and finished this book in a matter of a few short hours. What makes this book such an incredible read? Well, it was Mary and Hannah (Bunny). There story felt so real. I could picture every location they traveled to as well as the people they met. To call them characters would be a disservice. Mary and Hannah were full of life.
The love between the sisters is one that only sisters can share. Mary being much older then Hannah could have resented being stuck with her younger sister instead of having a life of her own. Yet, she never felt this and only cared for Hannah's well being. They were like two princess who were on a grand journey to their happy ending. Long after you are done with this book, Mary and Hannah will stay with you.
The love between the sisters is one that only sisters can share. Mary being much older then Hannah could have resented being stuck with her younger sister instead of having a life of her own. Yet, she never felt this and only cared for Hannah's well being. They were like two princess who were on a grand journey to their happy ending. Long after you are done with this book, Mary and Hannah will stay with you.
March 17, 2021
The blurb for this book is so misleading. Mary's "fine-tuned instincts for survival" are actually sociopathic tendencies to steal & use sex to blackmail & extort money. Gah! She lives in a fantasy world & the many holes in the plot make this book a waste of time.
February 12, 2024
So many random scenes that added nothing to the storyline and honestly - some parts were gross. The ending made the book even more confusing.
July 30, 2017
This may be my favorite book of 2017...WOW
January 5, 2025
Meh 1.5 aslında nefret etmedim ama çok sığ bir kitaptı karakterler olaylar olsun derinlik gelişim sıfır sonu desen acele ile bitmiş umutsuz ev kadınları irem olmuş aisnskwnsaksnasm
June 20, 2017
Some books grab me right away and won't let go, and this one certainly was that kind of book for me. I love books like this that are quietly suspenseful without being shocking and books with characters I just get right away. I connected instantly with Mary and her life of growing up way too early and having to do anything, ANYTHING, to keep her sister safe, fed and secure. While things she did were shocking, I understand her motivation completely. A tale of family, tragedy, and doing the absolute best you can when life is stacked against you. Highly recommend to readers of family drama. And my choice to read it while on vacation in the Gulf was perfect since a lot of important scenes in the book take place here!
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