Anissa Gray

"If you enjoyed An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, read The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls, ... an absorbing commentary on love, family and forgiveness."--Washington Post One of the most anticipated reads of 2019 from Vogue, Vanity Fair, Washington Post, Buzzfeed, Bustle, HelloGiggles and Cosmo! "The Mothers meets An American Marriage" (HelloGiggles) in this dazzling debut novel about mothers and daughters, identity and family, and how the relationships that sustain you can also be the ones that consume you. The Butler family has had their share of trials--as sisters Althea, Viola, and Lillian can attest--but nothing prepared them for the literal trial that will upend their lives. Althea, the eldest sister and substitute matriarch, is a force to be reckoned with and her younger sisters have alternately appreciated and chafed at her strong will. They are as stunned as the rest of the small community when she and her husband Proctor are arrested, and in a heartbeat the family goes from one of the most respected in town to utter disgrace. The worst part is, not even her sisters are sure exactly what happened. As Althea awaits her fate, Lillian and Viola must come together in the house they grew up in to care for their sister's teenage daughters. What unfolds is a stunning portrait of the heart and core of an American family in a story that is as page-turning as it is important.

The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls

Bria

Kath Lau

When highly respected couple and local restaurant owners, Althea and Proctor, are arrested and sent to jail, her sisters come together to care for their two teenage daughters as well as dealing with the consequences of the couple's crime.

The story is told in alternating perspectives between the Butler sisters - Althea, Viola and Lillian. Through this, we get to know the deep hidden secrets that still haunt each member of the family and how their dark pasts still affect them as adults.

Aside from the catchy book title and stunning cover, I enjoyed the writing and the complex characters. I thought that the family dynamic was quite refreshing to read. I also liked that this book isn't only about complicated family relationships. There are sensitive and heavy subjects in this book such as body shaming, domestic and child abuse, trauma, and eating disorders.

I did have a hard time getting into the story at first and it took quite awhile for me to get use to each of the character's voices which was a little disappointing since I love reading books with multiple POVs. Also, I wasn't that invested with the characters. I wanted to care about them but I couldn't. That's probably why it took so long for me to finish reading this book. Overall, this was still a great debut novel. I enjoyed the story and was glad to meet the Butler family.

Mari

|  I give birth to my own misery and grief and primal screams, and I can't stand to look at myself. 

This is definitely the type of book that you sit there and you wish it was a movie. 

Though it isn't a book where you sit there thinking "Gosh what is going to happen next??" Every time you grab it, it hooks you right back into the story. I love the character dynamic between the three sisters, and how we were given all three perspectives on their respective lives. This book never really builts into a climax, and none of the characters really have that big development that makes them change their lives, but it such a real and still well-developed story. Somehow reading about how people go through things and it doesn't do a whole 360 on their lives is very refreshing. 


I did wish we had more insight/discussion on certain topics in the book so here is a list.


Things I wish we had more insight on:

- Baby V & Kim past
- MERCEDESSSSSSS
- Lillian's and Joe's past
- Lillian's and Sam's past
- Viola's and Eva's relationship 
- All the siblings relationship with their father


Things I wish we had more discussion on: 
- Eating disorders
- Religion's involvement in how parents raise their kids
- How certain mothers give birth to their own misery 
- Divorce and cheating
- Guilt and how each person copes with a difficult past

Kerri McDonald

This was a quick, gut-punch of a read. It is the story of a family, three sisters and one brother, that is broken. They are drawn back together when the eldest sister, Althea, and her husband are arrested. This story is about what happens with this family and Althea's own daughters when they are all drawn back together. It was powerful and disturbing and sad. But it was also hopeful and inspiring. I think it dragged a bit in the middle, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it! It also really made me appreciate my family that much more.

Ana Couto

Thank you to Berkley for the free book in exchange for an honest review!

The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray tells the story of three sisters—Althea, Viola, and Lillian—as their lives are completely upended once Althea, the eldest, is arrested, leaving behind two teenage daughters, now under the care of their aunts (who have their own share of problems to deal with).

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s told through the alternating perspectives of the three sisters, and I found each POV to be equally compelling — I think being able to see into the minds of each of the sisters definitely made the story more well-rounded and interesting. I find that I’m usually a fan of narratives about complicated family dynamics, and this one has quickly become a favorite of mine. Definitely one of the best releases for 2019.

Hanna Schacter

Olivia

Amelia C 

“If you enjoyed An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, read The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls...an absorbing commentary on love, family and forgiveness.”—The Washington Post “A fast-paced, intriguing story...the novel’s real achievement is its uncommon perceptiveness on the origins and variations of addiction.”—The New York Times Book Review One of the most anticipated reads of 2019 from Vogue, Vanity Fair, Washington Post, Buzzfeed, Essence, Bustle, HelloGiggles and Cosmo! “The Mothers meets An American Marriage” (HelloGiggles) in this dazzling debut novel about mothers and daughters, identity and family, and how the relationships that sustain you can also be the ones that consume you. The Butler family has had their share of trials—as sisters Althea, Viola, and Lillian can attest—but nothing prepared them for the literal trial that will upend their lives. Althea, the eldest sister and substitute matriarch, is a force to be reckoned with and her younger sisters have alternately appreciated and chafed at her strong will. They are as stunned as the rest of the small community when she and her husband, Proctor, are arrested, and in a heartbeat the family goes from one of the most respected in town to utter disgrace. The worst part is, not even her sisters are sure exactly what happened. As Althea awaits her fate, Lillian and Viola must come together in the house they grew up in to care for their sister’s teenage daughters. What unfolds is a stunning portrait of the heart and core of an American family in a story that is as page-turning as it is important.

The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls

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