The Sisterhood Rules (Kathy Lette, Aria)

Bawdy, cheeky and resoundingly “punny”, Kathy Lette’s latest romp, The Sisterhood Rules, is 100% on brand. Twin sisters Isabel and Verity have been estranged for five years, ever since Verity became involved with Isabel’s husband. But when their 69-year-old mother, Nicole, a famous conductor, goes missing, they are forced to work together to save her, and perhaps themselves in the process. The Sisterhood Rules unfolds like a farcical slapstick drama: a whirlwind of intergenerational affairs, mysterious family trees, adult tantrums, tantric sex, politics and pheromones. Lette is famous for her adept combination of wit and wisdom, particularly in matters of sisterhood. And while long-time fans will revel in the light-hearted fun, the sheer volume of quips and puns can at times feel borderline frenetic. Still, it’s the darker moments in The Sisterhood Rules that have the most impact. Isabel’s reflections on her sister’s betrayal are compelling and sharply observed, and Lette excels in her portrayal of both The Derry Man character and Nicole’s spirited late-life awakening. Other strengths lie in Lette’s treatment of infidelity, ageing, ageism and sisterly and motherly love – all thought-provoking and surprisingly touching. The light-hearted banter will suit fans of Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones’s Diary with a twist of Joan Rivers’s gaggery. At the same time, the intricate and rollicking plot has a touch of Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club series and Kate Solly’s The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Michelle Atkins is a Communications professional and published educational author. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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