October 2024 – Grove Atlantic
Longlisted for The Center for Fiction Prize for First Novel
The New York Times, A 64-Year-Old Literary Agent and TikTok Star Adds ‘Novelist’ to Her Résumé
The New York Times, The Best Books of 2024
The New York Times, 24 Works of Fiction and Poetry to Read this Fall
The Guardian, My Youthful Secrets Went Viral
The Los Angeles Times, 10 Books to add to your reading in October
People Magazine, Best Books of 2024
People Magazine, Her Teenage Diaries Were Never Meant to Be Seen. Now Millions Are Reading Them on TikTok
Vulture, 27 Books We Can’t Wait to Read This Fall
Bustle, The Best New Books of Fall
Lit Hub, 27 New Books
Debutible, 10 Noteworthy Debuts to Read this October
Apple, Best Debuts of 2024
Katie Couric Media, Best Books About Sisters
“Lerner’s skilled approach to narrative lies in subtly depicting the destigmatizing of mental illness and the evolution of treatment during the period from the sisters’ childhood in the 1970s through the 1990s. Lerner’s portrayal of Amy’s five-year course of therapy is particularly rewarding, as Amy explores the limits and strengths of her bond with Olivia. The result is a quietly lovely and ultimately hopeful chronicle of a complicated family.”
“In this incisive, sharp novel, Amy Shred’s life is shaped by the unpredictable moods of her sister Ollie. Set over two decades, the book follows Amy and Ollie as they each come of age and try to find their place in the world. It’s a moving, keenly observed book about mental health, sisterhood, and family at large.”
“Shred Sisters is a brilliantly written, emotionally gripping saga that delves into the complexity of sisterhood, mental health, and resilience. Spanning decades, this utterly engrossing novel asks readers many profound and pressing questions: Can we fully know the ones we love? Does love always require self-sacrifice? Can we understand ourselves without understanding our family? One of the best books I’ve read in years.” –Chloé Cooper Jones, author of Easy Beauty.
“Betsy Lerner articulates moments I have observed but never put into words, and I both laughed out loud and was deeply moved. A brilliant novel.” —Alice Elliott Dark, author of Fellowship Point
“Wise to the woe and wonder of families and the bedeviling forces that shape them, Betsy Lerner’s masterful new novel, Shred Sisters, delivers you through grief and devastation toward tremulous, exquisite hope.” -Bill Clegg, author of Did You Ever Have a Family
“A cocktail of raw poetry, needle sharp insights, and propulsive, almost projectile honesty. I can’t get over how deftly it pivots from funny to mean to vulnerable to wise, often on a single page. Lerner explores the contours of complicated relationships with an intoxicating ferocity that – we come to realize – amounts to no less than an act of love.” —Leah Hager Cohen, author of Strangers and Cousins and To & Fro
Podcasts
As Told To with Daniel Paisner
Burned by Books with Chris Holmes
First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing with Mitzi Rapkin
Fully Booked by Kirkus Reviews
Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books with Zibby Owens
The Creative Penn with Joanna Penn
The Writer Files with Kelton Reid
Write-minded with Brooke Warner and Grant Faulkner
I’d love to start a conversation. Share your sister stories here. Are you an Amy or an Ollie?
15 responses to “Shred Sisters”
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Betsy! I’m neither an Amy nor an Ollie but I am a huge fan of Shred Sisters – just finished it. Brava!! Please be in touch.
Best,
Robin Kall
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Thank you for reading!
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Betsy,
Loved the Virtual “Book Club,” and I finally got on Tik Tok to listen to you. I followed your blog, but never had the inclination to do any writing from the prompts. Perhaps I should start.
Can’t wait to see the movie based on you! Good luck on getting your screen play produced. It’s inevitable.
I look forward to your next book of fiction, and I will go back and read your other books.
Best Wishes,
Karen Deutsch
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Thank you so much.
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I’m an Ollie. I have a sister who is 8 years older than me & who just turned 80. She was everything my parents wanted, I the one who gave my family grief & concern. All through my childhood teachers, aunts & friends told me they couldn’t believe we came from the same parents, but honestly I’m way more interesting & my tumultuous life greatly entertained me & those who watched it unfold. All while my sister is still sitting on her hands being good.
So glad I was gifted your book by a friend who’d just read it & wanted my opinion. I sent her a text this morning.
Donna
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I usually hear from the Amys of the world so thank you for this and the note. (I am Ollie and Amy.)
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Thanks so much for the note. xo
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haven’t read yet, with 2 younger sisters and the prevelance of opinions on the mental health of the nation these days, am considering buying 3 copies. fyi I am approaching middle of 8th decade. Youngest sister is avid reader and middle sister not so much. Always share books, can’t save them anymore as there are too heavy to move & prefer to downsize b4 I either die or have to downsize and relocate. Rambling. Saw author on Saturday morning news program. Will login after reading.
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Almost finished Shed Sisters. Remarkably true to life. Well written and expertly paced. I think we’ve all met Ollie’s in our lives – this examines this behavior through the lens of mental illness and makes it much easier to understand.
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Very much appreciate this comment. I wrote it from the inside out and have also studied bi polar illness from the poets to the neurologists. Hope it rings true.
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PS: When will you be doing another virtual book club on Zoom for Shred Sisters?
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just finished reading Shred sisters. I didn’t want it to end. Please promise that you will write more books. You are a gifted writer and storyteller. This was the best book I’ve read in years.
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oh my goodness – THANK YOU!!
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Hi BETSY!!! Just finished Shred sisters!! adored it!!! Thankyou for writing about the closeness of sisters – it’s truly unlike any other relationship.
Can I ask if you have sold TV or Film rights as yet??
Marley Morrison
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Thank you so much! Film rights are available.
If you have interest, please contact me at
Betsy@dclagency.com
Betsy Lerner 
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