Book Review: Sisters of Fortune

By Melissa Amster

The Cohen sisters are at a crossroads. And not just because the obedient middle sister, Fortune, has secretly started to question her engagement and impending wedding, even as her family scrambles to prepare for the big day. Nina, the rebellious eldest sister, is single at twenty-six (and growing cobwebs by her community’s standards) when she runs into an old friend who offers her a chance to choose a different path. Meanwhile, Lucy, the youngest and a senior in high school, has started sneaking around with a charming older bachelor.

As Fortune inches ever closer to the chuppah, the sisters find themselves in a tug-of-war between tradition and modernity, reckoning with what their tight-knit community wants for them—and what they want for themselves.

Sisters of Fortune is a story about dating, ambition, and coming-of-age within an immigrant community whose affection is endearing, maddening, and never boring. This novel explores the roots that entwine our lives with the ones who love us best, the dreams we hold for our daughters, and the winding paths we take to our own happy endings. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

I am really glad I got a chance to read Sisters of Fortune! It was like Jewish comfort food for the soul. I enjoyed getting to know Fortune, Nina, and Lucy, Syrian Modern Orthodox sisters living in Brooklyn in the late '00s. Fortune (the middle sister) is about to get married but something doesn't feel right. Nina is judged for being 27 and not married, but she is finally doing something she wants. Lucy is almost out of high school and dating a 30 year-old doctor. He's wealthy though, so no one is complaining. There's a lot of parental involvement and opinions nudging their way into the sisters' lives and decisions they make for themselves. And there's also Sitto, their grandmother, who has a lot to say. 

I liked all the Jewish elements and learning new things about Sephardic foods and rituals. I was glad the story was split between the sisters so that we got each of their perspectives. The entire time, I felt like I was right there in the Cohen home hanging out with everyone in the family, and perhaps helping them cook or prepare for Shabbat and upcoming holidays.

I had a few minor concerns, but nothing that took away from my enjoyment. I noticed a time inconsistency at the beginning: They said it was Monday but suddenly it turned into Wednesday. Lucy's storyline didn't match with the synopsis, as it said she was sneaking around but she wasn't as everyone knew who she was seeing. Finally, it would have been helpful to have definitions in footnotes or more context for words and phrases that were not defined in the glossary. 

I really enjoyed this book and have been recommending it to my friends. The cultural aspect was interesting as I am only slightly familiar with Sephardic customs and foods (although I'm still not sure what knafeh is). The story was just edgy and relatable overall.

It was difficult to cast a movie version of this book, but it would be cool if one were made. I could only think of one idea, and that is Lainie Kazan for Sitto.

(Trigger warnings at the bottom of this post.)

Thanks to Random House for the book in exchange for an honest review.

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TW: Death of grandparent. Bodily functions mentioned often.