Sweet story about a trio of sisters who grew up in the 70s/80s as local child performers in their rural Australian district. Later in adulthood, when the youngest, Carrie falls in love with the middle sister, Bett's fiance, Matt, a rift occurs between all 3 (Anna the oldest is caught in the middle) and they don't speak or see each other for 3 years. Called to return home to celebrate their beloved grandmother, Lola's 80th birthday, they head back to Clare to face the past. Their parents run a small holiday motel there, as they had in various locations as the girls grew up. Lola essentially raised them and was also responsible for their performing "career". Her character alone is worth the read! She is like an Auntie Mame meets Lady Grantham from Downton Abbey. Anna flies in from Sydney with her daughter Ellen, leaving a successful voice career, but failing marriage. Bett comes from London where she has just quit her job as a music journalist and Carrie lives locally, helping at the motel. Her marriage to Matt is on the rocks due to her own guilt and lack of confidence about how they got together. Lola has lots of tricks up her sleeve to get the sisters back together, not just as family, but also as their singing act. She also is a determined match-maker, so motel guest Richard is a target as well as local photographer Daniel Hilder. Though the novel could've run the way of trite, there are a few surprises and twists that keep it from a surface read and Lola is so unique and clever that she keeps the action moving. Perfect vacation read. ( )

This isn't my favourite Monica McInerney title. That one is Hello from the Gillespies, which was the first one I read and loved. I think because I really liked the characters. The problem I had with The Alphabet Sisters is that I wanted to shake those three girls quite a few times and tell them to stop being so stupid. Thank goodness they had grandmother Lola to do that.
The other reason was that while the author made it clear what had happened to cause the rift between the girls, she then saw fit, further on in the book, to have the girls tell someone in detail of what was said by whom and how, etc. I'm afraid I skipped some of that. It didn't add anything to the story.
This is certainly an emotional journey, just the same. Sadness and happiness in equal measure, like life as Lola would say. ( )

The alphabet sisters is about three sisters, once very close till a major rift draws them apart, after one of the sisters marries the other's boyfriend. However, the girls' grandmother has kept in touch with them over the years and insists on having them come over for her 80th party. Well, so much for hidden agendas to get them together once again but it is the ease with which the story flows that makes it a crackling read.

The novel particularly delights in some witty conversations, the repartee between the sisters and their grandmother. Mcinerney is clearly at home when she talks of bonding between sisters and family relationships. The dialogues are a joy to read and once can easily relate to the situations in the plot as the story moves between the past and the present during their teenage years and their adult lives.

My only complaint is that it tends to meander a bit, but I suppose when it comes to talking about emotions and feelings, a bit of a wide berth is called for.

Over all a warm and frothy summer read. Recommended for anyone who understands what it is like to have siblings. ( )

3 sisters, parents, grandmother— hurts, slights — all evolved well — didn't like ending when Anna dies

As girls growing up in Clare Valley, Australia, Anna, Bett, and Carrie Quinlan were childhood singing stars known as The Alphabet Sisters. The unbridled enthusiasm of their flamboyant grandmother Lola was the glue that held them together. As adults, though, the women haven't spoken in years - ever since Bett's fiance deserted her to marry the younger Carrie. Now Lola is turning eighty and she is determined to reunite the girls for a blowout bash. And no one ever says no to Lola.

I read this book after Lola's Secret not realizing it was a prequel and it didn't ruin a good story about sisters and family. ( )