As long as she can remember, it's been Nicola and her sister Viv agains the world. Abandoned by their parents, the two of them managed to raise themselves. They turned out pretty well, too: Viv is a successful surgeon with a husband and a big house, while 26-year-old Nicola is following her passion as a working artist.
Nicola would have said she knew her charismatic older sister better than anyone in the world -- right up until that terrible midnight phone call. A car wreck has left Viv widowed and unconscious. Nicola drops everything to get to her sister, but once there, she discovers that Viv has been concealing one astonishing secret after another.
Waiting for Viv to wake, Nicola must untangle the web of truth and lies around their family's past while trying to navigate their future.
She Taught Me Everything is a compelling story about sisters and secrets, and about the awful choices that can redefine the entire shape of a family.
Quarter Finalist
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: In this harrowing tale of sisters and survivors, Nicky stands vigil at the bedside of a comatose and pregnant Viv after a tragic car accident. As she contemplates their abusive childhood, their complex relationship, and the secrets Viv tried to protect her from, Nicky searches for the deep wells of love and resolve she will need to face an uncertain future.
Prose: The prose, style and dialogue throughout are very natural; the wealth of details and quirks interesting and often amusing. The only discordant note with regard to the prose is the length of the book: at 108,000 words, the descriptions of Nicky’s daily routine as she goes about basic household activities and trips to and from the hospital could have been trimmed significantly without losing any of its considerable appeal. The book may also have benefited from moving the investigation of the girls’ parentage closer to the beginning.
Originality: While She Taught Me Everything is not wildly original—and might have benefited from a snappier title—the strength of the voice and the complex relationship between Nicky and Viv makes this family drama fresh and endearing.
Character/Execution: Besides the strong prose and voice, the characters are the real stars of She Taught Me Everything. Nicky and Viv are richly drawn, sympathetic, complex, and multi-dimensional. From the first childhood flashbacks of abuse, neglect, and abandonment through their enterprising efforts to live independently, their relationship and the complications of multiple harrowing experiences draws the reader intimately into their sphere.
Date Submitted: April 18, 2024
"I could not put this book down"
"Well developed and captivating. So well written with an intriguing story. The bond of two sisters and their unique family history kept me wondering what was next in the back story and the coinciding current story. Would highly recommend!"
"Lovely family drama. Love love."
116 ratings, 39 reviews, 4.13 stars
"I'm not going to say much because that's the fun of this novel. Details of the past are released bit by bit to the big reveal at the end. This a sister story about two girls whose only stability in their childhood was each other. Linton writes well, with vivid details and interesting characters."
—Betsey Kepes, North Country Public Radio, June 18, 2024
This novel was incredibly compelling. Linton’s descriptions are particular in that they are concise and to-the-point while still being incredibly specific and evocative. I found her ability to paint a full portrait of a character from little descriptions of their mannerisms to be skillful and effective. No detail in this story was forgotten, and simultaneously, no description felt like a throwaway or filler...
All in all, She Taught Me Everything was an incredibly beautifully written piece of literary fiction with elements of mystery that made the story even more compelling. Trigger warnings for this novel include a car accident, death, grief, non-graphic animal death, hospital, mentions of child abuse, mentions of abortion and miscarriages, and a brief mention of an Indigenous stereotype. I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in steadily-paced stories about sisterhood and family secrets with elements of mystery and complex, fleshed-out characters.
