The Sisters of Summit Avenue

July 1, 2019
Two sisters struggle to mend their once-loving relationship in this novel by Cullen (Twain's End, 2015, etc.). The year is 1934. June Whiteleather lives in a big house in Minneapolis with her husband, Richard, a prominent surgeon from a wealthy family. June enjoys her job as one of the real-life homemakers behind the fictional Betty Crocker but suffers guilt over being childless. June's younger sister, Ruth, lives on her family's struggling farm on the Indiana-Michigan state line with her mother, Dorothy Dowdy; husband, John, who has a mysterious sleeping sickness; Italian boyfriend/farmhand Nick; and Ruth and John's four children. Ruth's greatest wish is to be June, who is beautiful, talented, and "relentlessly likable." When June and Richard visit Ruth's farm with a possible cure for John's ailment, multiple family secrets are revealed. Evocative historic details include flannel trousers, dress shields, bank robbers, soup lines, fur coats, fedoras, and Richard's "topless roadster." The story is heartfelt, but two prologues and a big cast of unnecessarily named minor characters create confusion; a dust storm that should be terrifying isn't; and a contrived climax features an antihero who reappears, briefly, after a 33-year absence. In a rushed ending, Ruth gets her wish, sort of and not in a good way. Sibling rivalry, betrayal, resentment, and cowardice add spice to this saga of sisters.

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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.

Starred review from September 1, 2019

Sisters June and Ruth have been in conflict despite their love for each other--Ruth is jealous of June's grace and beauty and their parents' attention, and June can't understand Ruth's anger and constant need to rebel. In Depression-stricken 1934, they are grown and living their lives separately, but their rivalry continues. Ruth is raising four daughters and single-handedly keeping her farm going since her husband John contracted "sleeping sickness" eight years ago. June is married to a successful doctor and is one of the women behind the popular persona Betty Crocker. While Ruth is jealous of June's life, June is unhappy and desperately in love with Ruth's husband. It is only when Dorothy, their mother, forces them to reunite and dark secrets from her past are revealed that the family can come together. VERDICT Cullen's (Mrs. Poe) complex story of a family torn apart by jealousy, betrayal, and misunderstanding will resonate with all readers. Courageous and heart-wrenching, it is a tribute to mothers, daughters, and sisters that's not to be missed.--Elisabeth Clark, West Florida P.L., Pensacola

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