“A sister is not a friend. Who can explain the urge to take a relationship as primal and complex as a sibling and reduce it to something as replaceable, as banal as a friend?”

Early on, the novel introduces the complex and ambivalent bonds of sisterhood, which are explored throughout the novel. The relationships that exist between the sisters are both more fraught and more resilient than many of their other bonds. The quotation foregrounds how the novel will explore what is unique and important about the relationship between siblings.

“Of all the girls, Nicky was the most girl.”

This quotation shows how Nicky is presented as a character within the novel even though she dies before the narrative begins. Memories from her sisters keep Nicky’s identity alive, and this reveals how love and family can endure in the face of grief. The quotation also shows how Nicky was distinct from her sisters; her distinctive personality and contributions to the family dynamic explain why she is so deeply missed.

“But what they don’t know is this: As long as you are alive, it is never too late to be found.”

This quotation establishes the tone of hope and redemption that pervades the novel even as the plot engages with themes of grief and loss. The narrative gradually reveals that the surviving sisters can move past their loss if they are open and authentic with one another. This quotation ensures that despite The Enduring Impact of Grief, healing and renewal are always possible.