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Three Sharp Knives
Who are we?
Growing up together, Seph, Heather, and Lia held onto each other in the face of a world that didn’t understand them. Now in their late twenties, the trio find themselves facing new challenges. Seph, the transgender daughter of a family of basic-cable ghost hunters, copes with the loss of her father, attempting to honor him without being swallowed by his legacy. Heather, a sharp-tongued Irish expat, fights unwanted feelings while trying to carve a place for herself in the world. Lia, a quiet girl living in the shadow of an unspeakable tragedy, finds herself trapped in an unhealthy marriage while striving for her life-long goal of being “normal.” Together, they’ve weathered every storm, lending each other strength and leaning on one another.
What are we?
But time has a way of loosening even the tightest bonds. In the aftermath of a jarring crisis, the three women must grapple with old wounds, new complications, and secrets that won’t stay buried as they try to decide whether to keep holding on to one another or to finally let go.
With her trademark blend of humor and heartbreak, Jessica Conwell’s Three Sharp Knives explores unconventional love, boundless friendship, and how our past and present weave together to make us who—and what—we are.
Growing up together, Seph, Heather, and Lia held onto each other in the face of a world that didn’t understand them. Now in their late twenties, the trio find themselves facing new challenges. Seph, the transgender daughter of a family of basic-cable ghost hunters, copes with the loss of her father, attempting to honor him without being swallowed by his legacy. Heather, a sharp-tongued Irish expat, fights unwanted feelings while trying to carve a place for herself in the world. Lia, a quiet girl living in the shadow of an unspeakable tragedy, finds herself trapped in an unhealthy marriage while striving for her life-long goal of being “normal.” Together, they’ve weathered every storm, lending each other strength and leaning on one another.
What are we?
But time has a way of loosening even the tightest bonds. In the aftermath of a jarring crisis, the three women must grapple with old wounds, new complications, and secrets that won’t stay buried as they try to decide whether to keep holding on to one another or to finally let go.
With her trademark blend of humor and heartbreak, Jessica Conwell’s Three Sharp Knives explores unconventional love, boundless friendship, and how our past and present weave together to make us who—and what—we are.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2019
3 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 19, 2019
This book earns its title. By which I mean Three Sharp Knives does not only refer to the three fiercely loyal best friends (narrators “Seph”/Persephone, Heather, and “Lia”/Ophelia) or to their escape room business of the same name. I think it also refers to how the characters and their tragedies and triumphs will lodge in your heart (or brain, if you prefer).
There are several reasons I can highly recommend reading it.
One is getting an educational and intimate look at one trans person’s (Seph's) emotionally fraught and raw experiences with coming out, and day to day never knowing when she or her (very cool and accepting) parents or loving girlfriend might be called upon to defend her choice. The bullying she weathers as a teenager is only the beginning of a rough ride. Yet it was clear to me Seph is making the mentally healthiest choice she can---asking to be known and loved for who she is---and she’s neither naive nor self-centered about it.
On a related note, readers get an educational and intimate look at romantic relationships that some might term "non-traditional" such as same-sex relationships and polyamorous relationships (which I say hoping I have shown utmost respect and tact, as I intended to do). The message “Love is love” (between consenting, mature partners, I mean) is omnipresent here, and I appreciate it.
On a still-related note, readers get an educational and intimate look at abusive relationships and how and why they happen, why the victim keeps consenting, and why and how the victim may choose to end it. These are very valuable life lessons, albeit truly painful to witness even in fiction. The author likewise portrays depression with compassion and wisdom, and this too is both painful and important to witness and understand.
But chief among the reasons to read this story are the author’s many storytelling gifts.
Conwell’s characters, especially the three BFF narrators, talk and act like distinct and deeply flawed people and you get to watch them realistically mature through interspersed flashbacks. You understand why they believe their lies (deliberate or by omission) will protect others or themselves in the moment. When their hidden truths inevitably come out to devastating effect, you understand that too.
Also on the topic of characters, the parent-child relationships are very well written and compelling, and the parents even get to be complex characters in their own right---particularly the lovable, outspoken mothers of Seph and Heather.
Conwell’s non-linear storytelling structure is inspired. Flashbacks are expertly timed with illuminating revelations about the characters and their relationships and histories without disrupting the narrative flow.
Conwell offers a lot of humor and many varieties of it to enjoy: wordplay, sarcasm, wit, teasing, comedic timing, absurdity, tongue-in-cheek, melodrama (especially in the entertaining ghost-hunting show episodes Seph and her parents make together), clever turns of phrase, and more.
Conwell’s plot twists and emotional stakes are intense and earned. Sometimes there’s foreshadowing to cushion the blow but not always.
In wrapping up my review I will explain why I didn’t give this story five stars given how powerful and authentic and meaningful and emotionally intelligent and well constructed it undeniably is. Bottom line, I use stars to measure the joy that reading gave me, and while there were joyful and laugh-out-loud moments the overall impression for me was more bittersweet.
I do also read for enlightenment, or to engage with provocative ideas or cultural perspectives or artistic narrative devices, or even to be moved to cathartic tears as well as laughter. But I confess I’m usually hoping for more closure and happiness in fiction than real life generally provides.
Some of the disturbing or tragic events portrayed in Three Sharp Knives cut too deep for me for entirely personal reasons, and I’ll say no more because I don’t wish to offer spoilers or content warnings.
But to reiterate, Three Sharp Knives is well worth the plunge. (Yes it's intended, puns always should be.)
WHEN A STORY HAUNTS YOU, SPEAK UP---BOOST THE SIGNAL!
There are several reasons I can highly recommend reading it.
One is getting an educational and intimate look at one trans person’s (Seph's) emotionally fraught and raw experiences with coming out, and day to day never knowing when she or her (very cool and accepting) parents or loving girlfriend might be called upon to defend her choice. The bullying she weathers as a teenager is only the beginning of a rough ride. Yet it was clear to me Seph is making the mentally healthiest choice she can---asking to be known and loved for who she is---and she’s neither naive nor self-centered about it.
On a related note, readers get an educational and intimate look at romantic relationships that some might term "non-traditional" such as same-sex relationships and polyamorous relationships (which I say hoping I have shown utmost respect and tact, as I intended to do). The message “Love is love” (between consenting, mature partners, I mean) is omnipresent here, and I appreciate it.
On a still-related note, readers get an educational and intimate look at abusive relationships and how and why they happen, why the victim keeps consenting, and why and how the victim may choose to end it. These are very valuable life lessons, albeit truly painful to witness even in fiction. The author likewise portrays depression with compassion and wisdom, and this too is both painful and important to witness and understand.
But chief among the reasons to read this story are the author’s many storytelling gifts.
Conwell’s characters, especially the three BFF narrators, talk and act like distinct and deeply flawed people and you get to watch them realistically mature through interspersed flashbacks. You understand why they believe their lies (deliberate or by omission) will protect others or themselves in the moment. When their hidden truths inevitably come out to devastating effect, you understand that too.
Also on the topic of characters, the parent-child relationships are very well written and compelling, and the parents even get to be complex characters in their own right---particularly the lovable, outspoken mothers of Seph and Heather.
Conwell’s non-linear storytelling structure is inspired. Flashbacks are expertly timed with illuminating revelations about the characters and their relationships and histories without disrupting the narrative flow.
Conwell offers a lot of humor and many varieties of it to enjoy: wordplay, sarcasm, wit, teasing, comedic timing, absurdity, tongue-in-cheek, melodrama (especially in the entertaining ghost-hunting show episodes Seph and her parents make together), clever turns of phrase, and more.
Conwell’s plot twists and emotional stakes are intense and earned. Sometimes there’s foreshadowing to cushion the blow but not always.
In wrapping up my review I will explain why I didn’t give this story five stars given how powerful and authentic and meaningful and emotionally intelligent and well constructed it undeniably is. Bottom line, I use stars to measure the joy that reading gave me, and while there were joyful and laugh-out-loud moments the overall impression for me was more bittersweet.
I do also read for enlightenment, or to engage with provocative ideas or cultural perspectives or artistic narrative devices, or even to be moved to cathartic tears as well as laughter. But I confess I’m usually hoping for more closure and happiness in fiction than real life generally provides.
Some of the disturbing or tragic events portrayed in Three Sharp Knives cut too deep for me for entirely personal reasons, and I’ll say no more because I don’t wish to offer spoilers or content warnings.
But to reiterate, Three Sharp Knives is well worth the plunge. (Yes it's intended, puns always should be.)
WHEN A STORY HAUNTS YOU, SPEAK UP---BOOST THE SIGNAL!
May 22, 2020
Sometimes you read a book that makes you stop everything else in your life until it’s finished. Three Sharp Knives is that book.
Three Sharp Knives tells the story of three young women, focusing mainly on how their bonds are strengthened through tragedy, love, and experience. A portion of the novel is told from each person’s perspective through reflections of the past and the present, approximately one third devoted to each person, until a final shorter section from Seph’s perspective.
The structure of the book is perfect. Each section historical reflection leads smoothly into the present and every character transition adds more detail to the novel in wonderful layers. The layering of the characters personalities and emotions is so powerful that I found myself reading with tears in my eyes on numerous occasions.
The biggest star is the characters. Every single person is unique and believable. Each time the author switches perspective, I immediately felt the transition of personality, and could tell I was in someone else’s shoes. Even the side characters are special and unique in their own way, whether likeable or unlikeable.
The dialogue is masterful. This book is driven by a fair amount of dialogue, and it’s all spot on. The conversations feel believable, and they help contribute to my love for the characters. I will also mention in this section that the editing and writing is flawless. This book belongs in every library/bookstore.
All the tragedy, love, and humor I experienced as I was reading made everything wonderful, but every once in a while there was a hint of something dark on the horizon. And so I kept reading and reading and reading because I was scared that someone I like would be hurt, and I kept wondering who it would be. I will not give any spoilers, but I did find the ending perfect. Certainly sad, but this novel was clearly never going to be all rainbows and sunshine.
This novel is such an amazing read. Easy five stars, and I would slot it comfortably beside my favorite books of all time.
Three Sharp Knives tells the story of three young women, focusing mainly on how their bonds are strengthened through tragedy, love, and experience. A portion of the novel is told from each person’s perspective through reflections of the past and the present, approximately one third devoted to each person, until a final shorter section from Seph’s perspective.
The structure of the book is perfect. Each section historical reflection leads smoothly into the present and every character transition adds more detail to the novel in wonderful layers. The layering of the characters personalities and emotions is so powerful that I found myself reading with tears in my eyes on numerous occasions.
The biggest star is the characters. Every single person is unique and believable. Each time the author switches perspective, I immediately felt the transition of personality, and could tell I was in someone else’s shoes. Even the side characters are special and unique in their own way, whether likeable or unlikeable.
The dialogue is masterful. This book is driven by a fair amount of dialogue, and it’s all spot on. The conversations feel believable, and they help contribute to my love for the characters. I will also mention in this section that the editing and writing is flawless. This book belongs in every library/bookstore.
All the tragedy, love, and humor I experienced as I was reading made everything wonderful, but every once in a while there was a hint of something dark on the horizon. And so I kept reading and reading and reading because I was scared that someone I like would be hurt, and I kept wondering who it would be. I will not give any spoilers, but I did find the ending perfect. Certainly sad, but this novel was clearly never going to be all rainbows and sunshine.
This novel is such an amazing read. Easy five stars, and I would slot it comfortably beside my favorite books of all time.
August 30, 2019
Spent the better part of the day reading this one on the very day it was published! Had enjoyed the author's debut novel so much, I couldn't wait to dig in, and what a ride it was. Hadn't meant to read the whole thing in a day, but the characters seemed so real and the story of their lives drew me in so deeply that I couldn't help myself. To say this book made me laugh and cry sounds like the worst cliche, but it's true. The author has a unique voice and knows how to blend humor and heartbreak in just the right balance, and the characters she creates seem less like fictional people and more like the coolest friends you wish you knew and could hang out with. Follows a similar narrative style as her first novel, moving the plot forward while gradually revealing backstory through flashbacks that only make us feel more deeply for what her protagonists are going through in the present. Deftly handled LGBTQ themes that emphasize the power of recognizing and accepting love and friendship wherever you are lucky enough to find it. No sophomore slump here. If anything, this reads like an author who has found and is confident in her voice and her craft. Instant favorite for me.
December 31, 2021
Three Sharp Knives is a beautiful, emotional story full of love and friendship and pain that will drag you through every high and low you could imagine, and some you probably couldn’t, and leave you a little better for it at the end.
This is the story of Seph, Heather, and Lia, three best friends who have known each other since high school and now, in what I infer from context is their mid-late 20s, run an escape room business together. Like a lot of my favorite indie reads, this one’s a bit of a genre-bender, but I’d probably call it queer women’s fiction over anything else? It’s a love story, but not really a genre romance. It’s really the story of the love among these three women, which is sometimes romantic and sometimes sexual and sometimes friendship, but just really LOVE, I think, above all.
Each of the three main characters takes her turn to tell a part of the story in scenes that alternate between the present and the past. Little by little, secrets from their pasts that eventually shape the present are revealed through some truly awesome pacing. The story kept me turning the pages, excited to find out not only what happened next, but what had happened before.
I adored and cared about not only the main characters, but also their families and friends. (Seph’s mom, in particular, gets a heartwarming subplot.) I genuinely enjoyed spending time with them, and when their story dragged my emotions through the dirt, it was definitely a GOOD hurt, that made the bright moments all the brighter.
There is quite a bit of darkness in this story… hate crimes, abusive partners, etc. Personally, if you know me you know I like some tears as long as it feels earned, and it definitely does here. Just be aware that it’s not a light, fluffy romp or whatever… but I definitely found it an overall uplifting and emotionally fulfilling read. Definitely recommend for readers who like all the feels.
This is the story of Seph, Heather, and Lia, three best friends who have known each other since high school and now, in what I infer from context is their mid-late 20s, run an escape room business together. Like a lot of my favorite indie reads, this one’s a bit of a genre-bender, but I’d probably call it queer women’s fiction over anything else? It’s a love story, but not really a genre romance. It’s really the story of the love among these three women, which is sometimes romantic and sometimes sexual and sometimes friendship, but just really LOVE, I think, above all.
Each of the three main characters takes her turn to tell a part of the story in scenes that alternate between the present and the past. Little by little, secrets from their pasts that eventually shape the present are revealed through some truly awesome pacing. The story kept me turning the pages, excited to find out not only what happened next, but what had happened before.
I adored and cared about not only the main characters, but also their families and friends. (Seph’s mom, in particular, gets a heartwarming subplot.) I genuinely enjoyed spending time with them, and when their story dragged my emotions through the dirt, it was definitely a GOOD hurt, that made the bright moments all the brighter.
There is quite a bit of darkness in this story… hate crimes, abusive partners, etc. Personally, if you know me you know I like some tears as long as it feels earned, and it definitely does here. Just be aware that it’s not a light, fluffy romp or whatever… but I definitely found it an overall uplifting and emotionally fulfilling read. Definitely recommend for readers who like all the feels.
April 11, 2023
This was a really good book; it deserves much wider recognition than it is currently receiving. I came across it because the author posted about it and offered a discount on Transgender Day of Visibility. (March 31).
One of the reasons I love to read fiction is that if it's good, it takes me into the heads of the characters I'm reading about. I could read dozens of articles, tweets, non-fiction books, blog posts or whatever, about what it's like to be a trans person, but by reading about a fictional trans character - if the book is well written - I can better imagine what it actually might be like to be that person.
The book doesn't totally dwell on Seph's trans-ness - but it is primarily about relationships. Each of the three main characters gets a turn at a first-person telling of the events as they unfold, and within each section there are numerous flash-backs. This is probably one of the reasons this didn't reach five stars for me. There were so many flash-backs that I had trouble at times figuring out where I was in the timeline. Breaking down the sections into chapters or providing a dated header for each would have helped a lot.
The other thing that bothered me a little was the constant "witty repartee." True, it does sound like typical dialog between young, close friends, but no one talks that way ALL the time, at least in my old-person's opinion.
It's a long book, and at times it felt a little too long, but a lot happens, and I found myself crying frequently over what the characters experience, which is always a sign of a good book, to me.
I'd recommend giving this a read if you'd like to be able to better imagine what life is like as a trans person.
One of the reasons I love to read fiction is that if it's good, it takes me into the heads of the characters I'm reading about. I could read dozens of articles, tweets, non-fiction books, blog posts or whatever, about what it's like to be a trans person, but by reading about a fictional trans character - if the book is well written - I can better imagine what it actually might be like to be that person.
The book doesn't totally dwell on Seph's trans-ness - but it is primarily about relationships. Each of the three main characters gets a turn at a first-person telling of the events as they unfold, and within each section there are numerous flash-backs. This is probably one of the reasons this didn't reach five stars for me. There were so many flash-backs that I had trouble at times figuring out where I was in the timeline. Breaking down the sections into chapters or providing a dated header for each would have helped a lot.
The other thing that bothered me a little was the constant "witty repartee." True, it does sound like typical dialog between young, close friends, but no one talks that way ALL the time, at least in my old-person's opinion.
It's a long book, and at times it felt a little too long, but a lot happens, and I found myself crying frequently over what the characters experience, which is always a sign of a good book, to me.
I'd recommend giving this a read if you'd like to be able to better imagine what life is like as a trans person.
July 21, 2020
Three Sharp Knives, by Jessica Conwell, is a novel about love and all the various forms it takes.
The story centers around three close friends, Persephone, a trans woman who starred in a cheesy ghost hunting show growing up, which has had a resurgence in popularity online; Heather, Persephone's longtime more-than-a-friend best friend; and Ophelia, a quiet church girl trapped in a loveless marriage. Together, they run the Three Sharp Knives Escape Room.
The main cast, the "three sharp knives," feel alive from the moment they're introduced. Conwell does a great job building them into people you care about. But where the book really shines is in exploring how those relationships help the characters grow and become more than they would've been alone. As the bonds between these characters strengthen, we can see how far they come (especially Ophelia).
The relationships in Three Sharp Knives are messy, but not in a frustrating way. I was hesitant to start reading the book at first because I don't tend to like books with extremely messy and complicated relationships, but I'm glad I did. Anytime a character did something that I internally screamed at them not to do, it was always for a believable reason, and never just to move the plot along.
It's a very moving book (which I won't give any details on for spoilers' sake), beautifully written, and with some of the best character work I've read in a while.
The story centers around three close friends, Persephone, a trans woman who starred in a cheesy ghost hunting show growing up, which has had a resurgence in popularity online; Heather, Persephone's longtime more-than-a-friend best friend; and Ophelia, a quiet church girl trapped in a loveless marriage. Together, they run the Three Sharp Knives Escape Room.
The main cast, the "three sharp knives," feel alive from the moment they're introduced. Conwell does a great job building them into people you care about. But where the book really shines is in exploring how those relationships help the characters grow and become more than they would've been alone. As the bonds between these characters strengthen, we can see how far they come (especially Ophelia).
The relationships in Three Sharp Knives are messy, but not in a frustrating way. I was hesitant to start reading the book at first because I don't tend to like books with extremely messy and complicated relationships, but I'm glad I did. Anytime a character did something that I internally screamed at them not to do, it was always for a believable reason, and never just to move the plot along.
It's a very moving book (which I won't give any details on for spoilers' sake), beautifully written, and with some of the best character work I've read in a while.
December 8, 2020
A roller coaster of a book
This author made me feel things I didn’t know were possible. It’s sad, happy, full of turmoil, love, hate, rage, injustice and the ability to overcome all of these things and live as close to happily ever after as possible. This book should be read by everyone: lgbtq+ or heterosexual, poly, religious, no religion, romantics, there’s really something here for everyone. I laughed, I cried, I rooted for them and every hurdle they overcame. There are some difficult things to read on here, but push on and you’ll be glad you finished the book as I am that I did.
This author made me feel things I didn’t know were possible. It’s sad, happy, full of turmoil, love, hate, rage, injustice and the ability to overcome all of these things and live as close to happily ever after as possible. This book should be read by everyone: lgbtq+ or heterosexual, poly, religious, no religion, romantics, there’s really something here for everyone. I laughed, I cried, I rooted for them and every hurdle they overcame. There are some difficult things to read on here, but push on and you’ll be glad you finished the book as I am that I did.
pass
August 19, 2021Okay, so. This book is long. And it alternates between the present and flashbacks, which is a structure I'm not a huge fan of. Also the author doesn't use speech tags much, but when she does, the capitalization is wrong. That's a pet peeve of mine.
Anyway the author started dropping hints and I wanted to see how things went so I skipped ahead to the end. And while I will probably never particularly enjoy that particular configuration of events now is especially the wrong time for me to want to keep reading knowing what's coming so I stopped.
Anyway the author started dropping hints and I wanted to see how things went so I skipped ahead to the end. And while I will probably never particularly enjoy that particular configuration of events now is especially the wrong time for me to want to keep reading knowing what's coming so I stopped.
April 26, 2021
Friendship, Love, and Family
The book follows three friends through grade school/high school and into adulthood. The bonds they form against the adversity in their lives run deep. And you’ll find yourself rooting for them as they battle discrimination and societal hate to become the truest versions of themselves. Highly recommend.
The book follows three friends through grade school/high school and into adulthood. The bonds they form against the adversity in their lives run deep. And you’ll find yourself rooting for them as they battle discrimination and societal hate to become the truest versions of themselves. Highly recommend.
November 27, 2021
Tears. Just tears
I know lots of things are described as "an emotional rollercoaster" but that really is the best description for this one. You get the highest highs and the lowest lows. If you like books that emotionally punch you in the gut, you'll have a hard time finding a better one than this.
I know lots of things are described as "an emotional rollercoaster" but that really is the best description for this one. You get the highest highs and the lowest lows. If you like books that emotionally punch you in the gut, you'll have a hard time finding a better one than this.
November 13, 2024
This book will punch you in the gut, help you back up with a smile, pat your hand gently, then kick you in the groin. Then do it all again. And again. You'll be emotionally bruised, bloodied, and broken, and better for it.
December 23, 2024
This is a wonderful, heartbreaking story about people who love each other dearly and the ways in which they help and hurt one another. I adored Seph, Heather and Lia and enjoyed spending time with them. Three Sharp Knives is the queer slice of life story you didn't know you needed.
October 12, 2024
I didn't know anything about this book, except that I had read Conwell's Ghost Flower, which I loved. Unlike that gothic fantasy, this is realistic fiction about relationships. Conwell is clearly skilled at point of view, which is a key driver for me. The book is told from the different points of view of three women who start as friends in high school. I really liked how the story alternated between the present and memories of the past in order to bring the reader along. I was a bit daunted by not having the relief of lots of chapters, but that's an author's choice to keep the story flowing. I was surprised to discover it was a poly romance, but I felt it did a good job in describing the risks and realities of this. This book broke my damned heart. I cried my eyes out, and when I thought I was done crying, it broke my heart even more. I can't remember a time that reading a book made me feel so deeply.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2024
I've read this twice now and it guts me each time -- but in a good way, I promise!
Queer found family overcoming adversity, finding each other, figuring out that they are family, coping with the bad times too. Sapphic romance, three focal point characters, one of whom is a trans woman, which resonates for me.
There are a couple of call backs to Jessica Conwell's earlier novel, Cluster here (which I also recommend) but they're incidental to the plot.
Queer found family overcoming adversity, finding each other, figuring out that they are family, coping with the bad times too. Sapphic romance, three focal point characters, one of whom is a trans woman, which resonates for me.
There are a couple of call backs to Jessica Conwell's earlier novel, Cluster here (which I also recommend) but they're incidental to the plot.
December 14, 2019
Upon opening this book, I was carried away with a narrative that was so mesmerizing, characters so endearing, a plot well-groomed that it belongs on a Hollywood screen, I could not help but fall in LOVE with this book! I think you will too.
Full review and interview can be read at www.meetawriterreadabook.com
Full review and interview can be read at www.meetawriterreadabook.com
September 20, 2019
Highly recommended
Beautiful and well written story that made me both laugh and cry multiple times, which is one of the highest compliments I can give to a novel.
Beautiful and well written story that made me both laugh and cry multiple times, which is one of the highest compliments I can give to a novel.
September 28, 2019
Highly recommend! Nuanced tale of friendship, love and queer identity. Full review on my blog!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews