The Island Sisters
Description
Four women from Haiti, St. Thomas, and Guam meet at a college counseling session for first-year students and learn they have a shared history of abuse. Dubbing themselves the “island sisters,” their unyielding friendship is their touchstone across oceans, through labyrinths of forced marriages and violent men, motherhood, and their dreams of freedom.
Strong-willed and hot-headed Monique, quiet and romantic Cecilia, devout Lanei, and determined Ella are four friends who seem to make up for what the other lacks. But no matter what is happening in their lives or the struggles they face, they share an unbreakable bond of friendship that serves as their anchor, helping and supporting each other through and through.
To succeed, each woman must make choices that will challenge her long-held cultural beliefs, choices that will come with consequences, in the pursuit of her own individual freedom.
An empowering narrative told from alternating perspectives of each friend, Micki Berthelot Morency has crafted four remarkable and hard-to-forget women whose fates are bound together by culture, by history, and most importantly, by a deep, irrevocable friendship. Heartfelt and deeply moving, THE ISLAND SISTERS is an important story about hope and determination.
Author
Micki Berthelot Morency
Series
N/A
Pricing
Hardcover
Large Print
Softcover
Ebook
ISBN Numbers:
Hardcover: 978-1-64397-330-2
Large Print: 978-1-64397-375-3
Softcover: 978-1-64397-331-9
Ebook: 978-1-64397-332-6
LCCN: 2021945964
Page Count: 314
Release Date: 6/20/2023
$28.00
$34.00
$16.95
$7.99
Category
Fiction | Women | Contemporary
Book Information
Copyright © 2023 BHC Press. All Rights Reserved.
Micki Berthelot Morency
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Praise
“Engrossing, heart-warming, and heart wrenching, The Island Sisters is the story of women who, in finding their tribe, also find themselves.”
—Pamela Stockwell, author of A Boundless Place
“Morency paints a compelling portrait of four sister-friends who meet pain and tragedy, but carry one another through it with boundless strength, hope, and love. The clink of bangles and their symbol of fierce love and determination will forever imprint itself upon your heart.”
—J. Marie Rundquist, author of All I'm Asking
“Morency's The Island Sisters leaves you rooting for her characters as if they're your kin. Her vivid prose paints an unforgettable portrait of Haitian culture and customs, while imparting wisdom and gripping your heart. This story will linger with you long after you reach The End.”
—Stacy Hawkins Adams, author of Watercolored Pearls
“so emotionally compelling, it will haunt you long after the twists and turns of its spellbinding plots.”
—M.J. Fievre, author of the Badass Black Girl book series
“Emotional, thought-provoking, and poignant. The strong bonds of friendship and moments of heart-break touched me and left me wanting to read more from the author. Guaranteed to be one of my favorite books of 2023.”
—Lainey Cameron, award winning author of The Exit Strategy
and host of The Best of Women's Fiction podcast
“It’s gripping, poignant and enraging, delving as it does into the often-hidden scourge of physical, emotional, childhood and sexual abuse.” See full article
—Waveney Ann Moore, columnist for St Pete Catalyst,
retired staff writer for The Tampa Bay Times
“entertaining, a page turner, [and] hard to put down.”
—David C. Edmonds, author of Lily of Peru
“Morency's poignant debut, is an absorbing story of love, loss, dreams deferred, and resilience forged alongside four sisters by choice.”
—Kathryn Brown Ramsperger, author of The Shores of Our Souls
“The Island Sisters is a plea on behalf of millions of victims around the world whose voices may never be heard…a story of hope, resilience, and of course redemption. A great read!”
—Ardain Isma, PhD, author of Bittersweet Memories of Last Spring
and Chief-Editor of CSMS Magazine
“I was hooked from the very first chapter.”
—Malve von Hassell, author of Alina: A Song for The Telling
“sweeping in scope. The landscape the author creates is lush with vivid details of the various island settings. The characters are fleshed out and believable. We want to leap into the pages and fight alongside the victims of unspeakable abuse. The sisters on these various islands, as the author says, are our kinfolk. We know them. We sit near them in classrooms, professional offices, in airplanes; we see them--too often without seeing them.”
—Katia D. Ulysse, author of Mouths Don’t Speak
“Morency's debut is a book that does not shy away from hard truths.”
—Kiana Stockwell, NetGalley Reviewer
“I believe every woman should read this book. It’s a work of fiction but I believe that every woman who’s been in an abusive relationship will learn so much from the book.”
—Sandra Gordon, Librarian and NetGalley Reviewer
“Morency's vivid writing transported me into the lives of Monique, Cecilia, Lanei, and Ella. The Island Sisters is a beautiful and wrenching story of family, domestic violence, and most importantly, the transcendent power of their friendship.”
—Hannah Summerhill, co-author of Real Friends Talk About Race
and co-host of The Kinswomen Podcast
“Micki Berthelot Morency has written an important and poignant novel. It is an ultimately uplifting, hopeful, and satisfying story that reminds the reader of the power women can yield, both individually and collectively, and that one of the most important people to forgive is yourself.”
—Christina Consolino, author of Rewrite The Stars
“I could not put this book down. The characters drew me in and held my attention.”
—Rhianna E., NetGalley Reviewer
“This was a great read!”
—Kristy M., NetGalley Reviewer
“This is an amazing book!”
—LibraryThing Early Reviewers
“The Island Sisters explores weighty themes of abuse, loyalty, faith, and love with raw honesty. Author Micki Berthelot Morency doesn’t gloss over the pain her characters experience, but she does point them toward hope. The women, though flawed, find the courage and grit they need to overcome the odds, to take responsibility for themselves, to advocate on behalf of other women, and to live with purpose. You’ll be inspired by this important novel.”
—Tracey Buchanan, author of Toward the Corner of Mercy and Peace
“a deeply moving story of female friendships that are forged within the crucible of domestic violence. This novel will draw you in and keep you enthralled all the way to the emotional but ultimately satisfying conclusion.”
—Regina Buttner, author of Absolution
“a powerful read.”
—Sara S., Goodreads Reviewer
“an engaging novel examining the lives of four friends. …a wonderful tribute to the importance of friendship and love.”
—Sara B., LibaryThing Reviewer
“Great, multi-faceted characters. Very interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. I felt every emotion. Kept me intrigued from the first page to the last. Simply a GREAT read!”
—Tammy W., NetGalley Reviewer
“moving and emotional.”
—Tina, Goodreads Reviewer
“What an emotional gut punch this delivers. Typically I don’t go for these intense depressing stories but typically they aren’t done as well as this. I was completely immersed in these women’s stories and the environments they inhabit(ed). At times it was hard to put down and that says so much for this type of book.”
—James M., NetGalley Reviewer
“an interesting story about abuse and how friendship and therapy can help us heal.”
—Delise T. Goodreads Reviewer
“This incredible book hooked me right out of the gate. I became immediately invested in each of the four women…a real page turner.”
—Christy T., Goodreads Reviewer
“an AMAZING and touching book. Words can’t describe how touching this story was…heart-felt and so beautifully written.”
—Molly E., NetGalley Reviewer
“WOW! Micki Berthelot Morency has written a powerful, intense, and riveting novel. This took my breath away, and I read this in one sitting. Be warned, have some Kleenex ready!”
—Linda's Book Obsession
“an important and poignant debut that will sit with readers for a long time. Full of beautiful descriptions and emotional moments, The Island Sisters reminds the reader of the power of women and friendship and that, indeed, a better place when sisters of all kinds look out for each other.”
—Shelf Unbound Magazine
Book Information, Awards & Press
Awards
Nominee: 2024 PEN/Hemingway Award, Best Debut Novel
