Can a novel with a very serious premise be labeled chick-lit? Can it be consumed as chick-lit? I sort of think that The Language of Sisters by Amy Hatvany straddles this line in some miraculous way.
At first glance, the plot seems heavy, perhaps even depressing:
Ten years ago, Nicole Hunter left her troubled home behind her, unable to cope with the demands of a life with her disabled sister, Jenny. Though her search for happiness—both in career and in love—has fallen short of her dreams, Nicole pretends that all is well. Then a shattering event turns her world upside down, and suddenly, she is back in her hometown, caring for her pregnant sister and trying to heal her embattled relationship with her mother.
Reunited with her family and forced to confront the guilt that haunts her, Nicole finally has the chance to be the sister she always wished she’d been. And when she is faced with the most difficult choice of her life, Nicole rediscovers the beauty of sisterhood—and receives a special gift that will change her life forever.
But somehow the mix of self-evaluation, restoration of relationships with her mother and sister, examination of love relationships, and of course a happy ending adds up to the perfect sort of light read that I’ve been so drawn to lately.
Hatvany’s characters sing. Though they might have come from a “movie of the week,” that’s what made this novel the enjoyable read that it was. Nicole doesn’t have it all together, but she’s not a hot mess either. She reconnects with her childhood friend Nova, who seems unconventional and wacky, but is really just a sweet mom who is able to go with the flow. Single dad Garrett is truly a prince.
The Language of Sisters did make me think — about my own relationship with my family, my own choices, my dreams, my friends, but I didn’t think so hard that the novel became less about enjoyment than about deep thoughts. It might not sound like a compliment, but it really is. It’s rare to find a light enjoyable read that also has some depth, but this one fits the bill.