A review by bookmaddie
Bear by Julia Phillips

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Happy pub week to BEAR! I was really looking forward to this novel since I absolutely loved DISAPPEARING EARTH by Phillips. This story once again follows a pair of sisters, Sam and Elena, who live with their ailing mother on an island off the coast of Washington. A large bear appears on the island and seems to be drawn to them, forcing each sister to reconsider her daily life.

I admit it took me awhile to get hooked in the story, but even so, I was always fascinated by Sam and Elena’s relationship, and the tensions that formed as they grew up. It’s rare for me to not really like any of the characters but still enjoy the reading experience, yet Phillips pulls it off here. I was transported into the story through Phillips’s writing. She explores the sisters’ relationship with depth, and imbues a magical sense of foreboding and wonder to every page.

As the story spirals to a dramatic end, I was hooked and intrigued. Phillips examines at the magic of the everyday, and how grief, responsibility, and the pressure of living can form something otherworldly. This is a unique story that feels isolated and frenzied at the same time, and if you’re interested in sisterhood, then I’d highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hogarth Books for my advanced digital copy!
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