The Sisters of Summit Avenue

July 15, 2019
In this evocative Depression-era novel from Cullen (Mrs. Poe), two sisters must contend with past mistakes after a long estrangement. June and Ruth have always been at odds. As children, Ruth wanted what June had, whether it was toys, friends, or romantic attention. Ruth, now 30, has managed the family farm for the past eight years, since her husband, John, fell ill from a mysterious “sleeping sickness” that’s left him bedridden. Thirty-two-year-old June, meanwhile, writes recipes and menus for Betty Crocker in St. Paul, Minn. Ruth is envious of June’s career and lifestyle, unaware that June’s marriage is struggling in the wake of not being able to have children. When June and her wealthy husband visit Ruth and their mother, Dorothy, resentments and baggage from the sisters’ past dating back to high school pile up into insurmountable obstacles to a happy reunion. In the turmoil, a secret Dorothy has kept for decades comes to light, causing both sisters to reckon with their own sense of identity. Though some revelations feel rushed, Cullen explores a complex, realistic dynamic between sisters who have never resolved their contentious youthful traumas and grounds her story with convincing historical details. Fans of Paula McLain will love this.