Oh, Sister: The powerful new novel from the author of Another Life

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CN for this book/review: religion, miscarriage, sexual assault (including of a minor), internalised homophobia, pedophilia Victor was the most impressive of the secondary characters. I wish he had had a greater role to play. He was one of the few sane voices in the story. Isobel and Jen have spent their entire lives following the rules - of their marriages, and their religion. A story of hope over adversity . . . What each woman goes through will resonate with many. The characters are brought to life in a way that will leave you rooting for them. A touching tale about female friendship, finding strength when you need it most * GRAZIA * The characters have multiple side-plots, which adds to their multi-dimensional feel and really enriches main themes. I particularly enjoyed Zelda's reunion and holiday with the guy she had dated in her late teens - AMAZING and PROFOUND.

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The three protagonists were varied and all at different stages in their relationship with their faith. Somehow, the writing was such that I felt a deep connection and kinship with all of these women, despite me having little to nothing in common with them. I immediately understood the struggles to equate the beliefs they had been taught with what they could actually see going on around them, but also not wanting to alienate themselves from their entire community. The decisions they have to make, or are made for them, are enormous, and I really felt for all of them. The character development and pacing is spot on, not at all predictable and I loved that! As the pressure builds and Frankie's personal life begins to take the hit, she starts to wonder if she'll ever manage to escape the strange world of fashion unscathed. And, quite frankly, does she even want to? This is a novel about what it is like to live inside a prison of the mind and how to break out of it - if you can.We are thrilled to extend our congratulations to Jodie Chapman whose stunning novel Oh, Sister is published today in the UK by Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House. I've read a number of books about religious "cults" as some call them, and so far, I've enjoyed nearly all of them. You would think they would be a bit samey, and I suppose there are similar themes, but the authors all of their own personal experience and therefore they can put part of themselves in their books, giving each one the edge. Three women, very different lives but united by their connection to an extreme religious group known as The Disciples of the Last Days who await Armageddon. As Sisters their subservience to the Brothers is a given. First of all, there’s Jen Musgrove who has undergone a personal tragedy and is subservient to husband Pete - or is she? Next, there’s Isobel Forge, a magnificently conscientious wife to Steven, her striving for perfection masks certain issues. When Steven suddenly announces he’s leaving her, what direction will her life take now? Finally Zelda, formerly Alice, a wedding photographer and there’s a big story in the name change as we are to discover. My thanks to Penguin Random House, Michael Joseph, and NetGalley for the DRC of “Oh, Sister”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman - Fantastic Fiction

The theme is the strongest part of the book. Based on the real-life Jehovah’s Witnesses, the fictional ‘Last Days’ group of the story is a typical male-dominated religious cult that twists Biblical scriptures according to their own convenience and indoctrinates their followers into blind belief. Their misogynistic decisions are infuriating. I loved how some of the “worldly people” of the book were able to question some of their claims logically.

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Isobel Forge has spent a lifetime following the prescriptions set out for an ideal daughter, dutiful mother, and suitable wife to a community elder, all at the expense of getting to know her own self. When her husband leaves her, what becomes of her identity – what role can she possibly assume? I don’t know what I was expecting with Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman. I tried not to read too much about it. I don’t think I was quite prepared for what I got.

Oh, Sister: The powerful new novel from the author of Another

You change every single day, but you don't see it. Little by little. Until one day, you're completely transformed." But this is not a dystopia. This is not the future or the past or a fantasy. It is real and it is happening now. Can we break free?

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All in all, I appreciate the novel’s attempts to highlight how much brainwashing occurs in cultish groups and how such religious leaders enforce misogynist practices and discrimination in the name of God. I wish the writing had been more streamlined so as to enhance the impact of the story. Nevertheless, it offers a hard-hitting look at a topic not commonly covered in general fiction. Jodie Chapman is such an exceptional writer. I loved Another Life and Oh Sister was, quite simply, just as incredible. Oh, Sister follows the story of three women. All three have been disfellowed from the cult because they are judged as having gone against the religion's beliefs. I won’t lie, it’s a hard book to read. There are some seriously intense themes, and some emotional scenes, talk of sexual abuse, death, complicated love affairs etc. They are hard to read sometimes, but I think she’s found a nice balance. They’re there for a point, to show that this religion is not always the happy place it’s often depicted as, but they’re not just there for entertainment purposes. They really mean something to the author, the characters, and the reader. I tore through this book reading it over the course of a weekend. I felt so much grief for the women and in awe of their strength and sacrifice. If you are in anyway sceptical of male dominated religion then it’s a given that you will get angry, especially when you’re aware that the work is informed by the authors (recent) experience. But there are also beautiful love stories woven through this and I found myself rooting for certain partnerships.

Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman publishes in the UK - Madeleine Oh, Sister by Jodie Chapman publishes in the UK - Madeleine

Isobel has spent her entire married life being the perfect wife. But now her husband wants to leave her, and she has no idea who she is without him.The three main characters – Jen, Isobel and Zelda – show how cruel a religious group can be but also how being a part of that lifestyle can be something you covet and crave as it is the only world that they know. As a reader, you feel that you want to fight for each of these characters because whilst you can see their flaws you know that they don’t deserve some of the things that happen to them.