SISTERS ONE, TWO, THREE
Under the blue sky of a perfect Martha’s Vineyard day in the 1970s, an accident occurs which changes everything for the Tangle family. In its aftermath secrecy becomes a way of life. Though Ginger and her sisters grow up to take divergent paths—Callie leaves home, Mimi stays too busy to think, and Ginger develops a highly honed internal monitor for danger and risk—all of them stay true to the family’s unspoken vow to suppress the truth of what happened. It is decades later, when Ginger’s own teenage daughter overhears a whispered comment, that the Tangles’ carefully constructed web of lies begins to unravel. With the death of their colorful matriarch Glory, and the return of their long estranged sister, Callie, the three sisters travel back to Martha’s Vineyard. There Ginger pieces together what really happened on that calamitous day when a shadow fell over four sun-kissed siblings playing at the shore. With Ginger’s newfound understanding come the keys to reconciliation: with her mother, with her sisters, and with her daughter. At turns heartbreaking, humorous and hopeful, SISTERS ONE, TWO, THREE explores not only the consequences of keeping secrets, but also the courage it takes to speak the truth, to forgive, and to let go.
PRAISE & REVIEWS
“An extraordinarily moving, beautifully written novel, Sisters One, Two, Three is a searing portrait of a family haunted by tragedy and fractured by the toxic power of secrets. As the story progresses, we grow to know and love the fierce and eccentric Tangles, a family at once familiar and like no other. I was riveted from the first page.”
—Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train
“Unnerving”
—Vanity Fair, “Must-Read Books of the Holiday Season”, Holiday Issue, 2016/2017
“A gripping page turner…heartbreaking and beautiful.”
—Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, March 19, 2017
“A consistently compelling and entertaining read from cover to cover, Sisters One, Two, Three clearly showcases author Nancy Star’s genuine flair for deftly created characters and original storytelling.”
—Midwest Book Review, March 2017
“This is a fine multi-generational family story about the ties between sisters and the need to confront past trauma.”
—Toronto Star, February 19, 2017
“Exploring sisterhood’s powerful links…All too often when books jump between past and present, the result is confusion. Here’s, it’s illumination as Star smartly shows us who these characters were as girls and why they became the women they are.”
—Star Ledger, January 1, 2017
“Star (Carpool Diem) crafts a moving story of a woman searching for the truth about her childhood and the secrets of her family’s past as she grapples with her own life…Delightful, heart-wrenching, and honest, this book is a lovely examination of memory, the past, and how, despite flaws, the strength of family ties remains throughout years of tumult and misunderstanding.”
—Publishers Weekly, November 21, 2016
“An emotionally gripping portrait of a family’s secrets and confessions…Star brings all the members of the Tangle clan to life—these are multifaceted, complex characters with remarkable depth and nuance. Readers will enjoy seeing the childhood quirks resurface in the Tangle adults, and fans of Jamie Brenner and Elizabeth Kelly will adore this compelling multigenerational story.”
—Booklist, October 15, 2016, by Stephanie Turza
“With delightful wit and the prowess of an expert story teller, Star offers profound insight into the maternal heart in this deftly braided tale of the utterly original Tangles. Sisters One, Two, Three begs to be read in one big gulp—and will leave you with a lasting understanding of the treacherous balance between love and autonomy.”
—Lisa Gornick, author of Louisa Meets Bear
“Witty, compelling, and wise, Sisters One, Two, Three is the kind of novel I always crave but rarely find. Glory Tangle’s relationship with her children, both as kids and as grown ups, is as real as it gets. She’s a fantastic character, a match for the surprises to be found in the perfectly evoked island setting of Martha’s Vineyard. I really loved each of the three sisters, too, and was very nervous for all of them! Nancy Star, thank you so much for the hours I spent in these pages.”
—Alice Elliott Dark, author of In The Gloaming and Think of England
“Nancy Star does an amazing job at peeling away the onion-layers of family connections…At once tender and bracing (yes, it’s possible to be both).”
—Bibliotica
“A compelling, fascinating, and smartly written book…The plot was unique, brilliantly layered, expertly crafted, and enticingly executed.”
—BooksandBindings
“This family saga is full of heart and heartbreak, a family torn apart and pieced back together…This book would make a great book club selection. It’s women’s lit at its finest.”
—Celebrity Cafe
“A deeply emotional, heartfelt story about family dynamics, loss and love.”
—BooksofAllKinds
“Sisters One, Two, Three is a great choice for readers who love very complex stories about family relationships and secrets.”
—WithLoveForBooks
“Nancy Star’s gripping novel of mothers and daughters and sisters shows us how we can never escape our families—and why that may be our salvation. Full of surprising twists and deep emotional insights, Sisters One, Two, Three will keep you glued to your beach chair, casting worried glances at those little clouds threatening to gather into a storm. This book will transform the way you see your own family’s past and its future along with the way you experience the power of now.”
—Pamela Redmond Satran, author of Younger
“What is it that fascinates us about the bonds between sisters? There have been many great stories about that special bond and this is no exception. Enter the Tangle sisters, held together by love, common experience, and a web of secrets. From cautious Ginger, to adventurous Callie, to busy bee Mimi, you won’t be able to help seeing yourself in this family, the things that pull it apart and ultimately tie it back together. Set some time aside to read this gem; you won’t regret it.”
—Catherine McKenzie, bestselling author of Hidden and Fractured