Miss Pearly’s Girls is both a reunion and journey. The four Bell sisters have been estranged for years and have a very complex relationship either each other. When their mother falls, they are brought back together waiting to hear about her condition. Their mother requests that the girls find a way take amends with each other. This will be the only way that she will have peace before she passes and all the hidden secrets must be revealed.
All four sisters Maxine, Star, Stella and Leslie have some form of a secret which has impacted the way that they have lived their lives. Each sister has a justification for keeping the secret and are holding on tightly to the pain of the past refusing to let go. They are each strong willed and hard headed and once one secret comes to light it isn’t long before everything is revealed. The reveals are heart-rending and fracture the family even further. It is a really hard look at family, dynamics and forgiveness.
Maxine, Stella, and Leslie each get a point of view throughout the story. These are the characters with the heaviest of secrets. As you read you can see the toll which these secrets has had on each of them and their relationships Everything is so well placed together. I was able to guess one of secrets right away as it was first introduced and it was interesting to watch the characters who knew struggle with their truth; and the characters responses when all is revealed. These sisters have incredibly tense relationships and it came as no surprise to me that one sister would try and hurt another sister right where she knew it would sting the most. Especially when pushing buttons and revealing secrets.
Miss Pearly’s Girls tackles several sensitive topics with beautiful storytelling. There is so much to unpack within these pages. It is painful and thought provoking. Each sister has a different dynamic and a different approach to life. They are their own person and each loves their mother very much. The strength and power of the matriarch is especially important in this story. It is just so well done and provides wonderful context for discussion possibly during a book club session
Rating: 4 Stars
**I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
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