Search - While My Sister Sleeps

I was lucky enough to win an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book from bookbrowse.com's First Impressions program. The following is the review that I posted on their website:

Another Winner From Delinsky
I am a long time fan of this author and was very happy that she did not disappoint with this story. As always, Ms. Delinsky's strength lies in her ability to write realistically about relationships, mother/daughter, siblings and the love/hate relationship that we sometimes have with our family.
The book hooked me from the first page even though the storyline is heartbreaking. It made me think a lot about my own relationships with my mother and sister, and how I would react to such a sudden and devastating loss. A wonderful story of family, love, loss, forgiveness and understanding, I was sorry to see it end. I very highly recommend.

This was a fast read - not a great book, but certainly an entertaining one. It reminded me of the type of story you would see in a Lifetime movie. The characters were largely sympathetic, if a bit one-dimensional. The plot was predictable, but it still made for a satisfying Saturday afternoon read. I thought it was more believable than _Family Tree_, and I would certainly read another book by this author, though I would wait for a sale price.

The books starts off well, the plot is good, the character development is good and the author obviously made efforts to create characters you can relate to in one way or another. The problem is, just when you are thinking it's a good book, it turns to a flat, predictable, thinly-veiled motivational speech to be true to yourself but not even in a motivational way, too much like all the same drivel that is constantly rehashed and fed back to the mindless masses. Just when you are ready to give up the whole book from the nausea of it, it starts to look like the book will redeem itself but only makes it halfway there. It's such a shame, though, because cleaning up those parts would have made for a truly good, engaging (if not a lil fluffy) story without the readers having to reach for the ginger ale to get through the rest of the book.

No love, sappy story here - very involved story though. Barbara really does know how to get details into a story, really brought the emotions into it and at times I felt like I was part of the story. I can't imagine the heart wrenching decision the family had to make but it was interesting the way the author had the siblings re-act to what happened to their sister. I thought it was a very good book, almost one that I could see made into a 'made for TV movie'. Definitely recommend. :)

I enjoyed this book and as always there aren't very many books by Delinsky that I haven't liked. It did drag on about taking someone off life support especially when they are your own child. It is worth the read

This is the first book I've read from this author. It's a quick read and I found it very engrossing and touching. I shed a few tears but it's not overwhelmingly maudlin. I will be looking for more from Barbara Delinsky.