Lisa Roe's wry, warmhearted second novel, Big & Lily, takes readers deep into the heart of the Alaskan wilderness--and the equally challenging terrain of sisterhood.
Bridget "Big" Ackerman-Petty has spent her life caring for everyone around her, especially her bright, charismatic younger sister, Lily. Big's two kids are grown and her husband has retired, but she still spends her time managing everyone's lives, not to mention chauffeuring her imperious mother to water aerobics and appointments. When Lily's marriage implodes, she books a last-minute slot on an Alaskan wilderness trek and begs Big to come with her. Big reluctantly agrees, compelled by her sense of responsibility, only to discover that Lily has signed them up for a no-frills adventure. Without cell service, a comfortable bed, or her luggage, Big finds herself entirely out of her depth, attempting to support Lily while struggling to keep up with their fellow hikers. As the sisters navigate physical tests, Alaskan wildlife, and each other's constant presence, they are forced to confront the emotional baggage they've lugged across the country--and maybe have a real conversation for once.
Roe (Welcome to the Neighborhood) explores the sisters' close but complicated dynamic: Bridget's protectiveness of Lily and her resentment at Lily's carefree approach to everything, plus Lily's not-so-secret envy of Bridget's life as a wife and mother. On the Alaskan trek (as in their regular lives), Bridget tries to sustain Lily in the way she knows how: urging her to open up about her feelings and making a plan for what's next. Lily, meanwhile, blows hot and cold as she processes the end of her marriage, alternately pushing Big away and crawling into bed with her at night. The sisters' tensions also flare up along the trail itself, leading to at least one too-close encounter with a moose, among other dramatic incidents. Roe slips in a few breathtaking descriptions of the Alaskan scenery and one heart-to-heart conversation that begins to shift the way Bridget sees her sister and herself. With the help of several new friends, a borrowed pair of hiking boots, and some serious grit, Big may survive this hiking trek after all--and if she does, she'll be making a few changes when she gets home.
With a gorgeous setting and plenty of humor, Roe's insightful novel will appeal to readers who love adventure tales, complex families, and stories of second chances. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams
Shelf Talker: Lisa Roe's warmhearted second novel explores the complicated dynamic between two grown sisters on a hiking trip in the Alaskan wilderness.