When We Were Sisters: An emotional and totally gripping page-turner

Two sisters who haven’t spoken for twenty years. One summer to bring a family back together.

Jayne Winters hasn’t seen her sister Charlotte since that last childhood holiday at their grandmother’s North Carolina beach house. Separated after that summer by their parents in a bitter divorce, Charlotte has never forgiven Jayne for not fighting to stay together.

So when Jayne discovers that they have both inherited the beach house, and that their grandmother’s last wish was for them to renovate it together, it feels like a miracle: one last chance to win her sister back.

At first Charlotte will barely speak to her. But slowly the memories of swimming races and storytelling in their attic bedroom looking over the sea start to break down the wall between them. With the help of photographs and letters left by their grandmother for them to find, the two women begin to restore not just the creaking mahogany staircase and the faded antique wallpaper, but their own relationship.

But then Jayne discovers that Charlotte has kept a heart-stopping secret from their past from her. Can she find it in her heart to forgive her sister and keep their grandmother’s dream of reuniting them alive—or are some wounds too big to heal?

An emotional and uplifting read about sisters, secrets and the family bonds that hold us together no matter how complicated they are, from the bestselling author of The Lighthouse Keeper. Fans of Mary Ellen Taylor, Elin Hilderbrand and Mary Alice Monroe will love this.

Readers love Cynthia Ellingsen:

“Phenomenal! Immediately pulled me into the story and I couldn’t set the book down until I’d finished… This will be one of those books that I reach for time and again.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Utterly impossible for me to put down. A gorgeous story… devoured the entire book in just one sitting… I wish I could give it five hundred stars. All I can say is WOW—read it. You won't be disappointed.” NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

“Will tug at readers’ heartstrings and make them laugh and cry… a stirring tale of love, loss and loyalty that manages to be life-affirming, heart-breaking and uplifting at the same time.” Bookish Jottings

“I was immediately sucked in and became invested with the family drama… Loved it!… captures your heart within minutes! I can't wait to share this with my friends and family.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

“Kept me turning the pages… I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a day!… Feels like a warm hug.” Goodreads reviewer

“Such a beautiful and emotional story… Completely captured my heart and my sense of adventure.” Berit Talks Books

“Hooked from the first page… I found myself wanting to read faster and know what happens next.” The Writer’s Workout

“The characters were so easy to relate to and the setting was beautiful… Helped take me away like a book should… One of the best books I've read so far in 2021.” Book Dreamer