The Campbell Sisters by Eileen Joyce Donovan

Publisher:  DX Varos Publishing (March 7, 2023)
Category: Literary Fiction, British and Irish Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction
Tour Dates March 13-April 11, 2023
ISBN: 978-1955065702
Available in Print and ebook, 396 pages

Description Campbell Sisters by Eileen Joyce Donovan

Helen Campbell is the eldest and most practical of three sisters, daughters of hard-working Irish emigrants living in New York City in the 1950s. She does what she can to keep the wild-child middle sister, Carolyn, in line and support the youngest, Peggy, as she pursues her dreams of becoming a doctor. Then Helen meets Charlie.

While it’s love at first sight for those two, Carolyn’s antics threatens to derail all the sisters’ future happiness. However, through thick and thin, the three sisters strive to prevail, though not necessarily in the ways they thought they wanted.

My Thoughts Campbell Sisters by Eileen Joyce Donovan

The Campbell Sisters takes place in 1950’s New York City.  All three sisters are in their 20s and still living with their parents in an apartment.  They are Irish Americans.

The three sisters share a room so are always pretty aware of what each are up to. Helen, the oldest sister, is pretty much in charge, as her mother has always reminded her that she is the oldest. She is also considered a spinster and the age of 25 because she is not married.

Helen works at an orphanage and takes her class to the park.  They are not allowed to bring any toys however, one of the boys sneaks a ball out and it goes sailing into the bicycle lane.  He runs after it and is hit by a bike.  The man riding the bike, Charlie, feels awful and wants to help. He insists on carrying the boy back to the orphanage with Helen and her charges.  Then he asks Helen out and waits for her until she is done working for the day.

After that day, they went out frequently. Charlie is a boxer and one night, he takes her to see a fight. The fight did not bother her however, the other thing she saw across from their seats did.  She saw her middle sister, Carolyn with her boss.  Long after Helen comes home, her sister Carolyn appears climbing into their second floor, bedroom window.  Helen confronts her.

Their parents heard and in the morning at breakfast, they confront Carolyn.  Even though the girls are grown, they have a curfew and their dad is very strict about it.  He told Carolyn that since is will not follow his rules, she will have to move out by the end of the month.  For Carolyn, she digs herself a hole, deeper and deeper.

Their youngest sister Peggy, is studying to become a doctor.  While out celebrating with Helen and Charlie one nights, She meets Charlie’s best friend and manager, Joe.  Sparks fly.

Some of what happens is predictable however, that does not detract from the novel.  It is well written and 1950’s New York is brought back to life in all it’s grandeur and some of it’s underbelly as well.  The characters are well written as well.  I felt like I was there as part of the family.  In fact, I think it would make an excellent movie!

‘The Campbell Sisters’ is a gem of a book and I highly recommend it! I give it all 5 stars.  I will be thinking of the characters for a long time to come!

About Eileen Joyce Donovan

Eileen Joyce Donovan has been writing her entire life, in one way or another, whether it was imaginative stories for friends, or advertising copy for clients. At the persistent urging of her husband, she finally agreed to seriously edit and revise one of her stories and take the plunge. Years later, her persistence paid off and both her debut historical fiction, Promises, and her second novel, A Lady Newspaperman’s Dilemma, won prestigious awards. Her short stories have appeared in several anthologies, and her essays have been included in various Chicken Soup for the Soul editions.

She lives in Manhattan, New York and is a member of Authors Guild, Women’s National Book Association, Women Fiction Writers Association, and The Historical Novel Society.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/etdonovan1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eileen.donovan.923

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