We first meet Rebecca, an Australian lawyer, living in London. She’s going through the motions at an insurance firm, dating a guy she doesn’t really like that much, when she receives an email from her sister, Hannah, who lives the ‘perfect’ life in a wealthy area in Sydney, married to her successful lawyer husband with their six-year-old daughter. Rebecca needs to return to Sydney, after 10 years away, to tie up some family business. But why did she leave in the first place, and what caused the rift between the sisters?
I love the family drama genre, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Sophie Stern drip feeds the past at a perfect pace as we piece together the puzzle of this family’s history. I realised early on that I didn’t particularly like Rebecca or Hannah very much (and certainly couldn’t pick a side) but that didn’t make the story any less compelling. And as the novel progressed and stripped back the layers of their personalities, I became fonder of each of them. Having grown up in London and lived in Sydney in the past I enjoyed the recognisable locations, and Sophie Stern’s writing flows easily without being plain.
I was hooked from page one of What is Left For Us, Australian debut novel. It’s a well-crafted book and relaxing reading. I look forward to more from this author.
Reviewed by Amanda Brinkman
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sophie Stern is from Sydney, Australia, where she lives with her husband and son. Her short fiction has been published in magazines and literary zines including Yen Magazine and Ellipsis Zine, and shortlisted for the Bridport Prize.
The manuscript of her first novel was shortlisted for the Penguin Literary Prize in 2024.
(5/5)
Sophie Stern’s debut novel What Is Left for Us is such a beautiful read. From the very first page, I felt completely drawn in. Stern has a real gift for creating characters who feel messy, real, and deeply human and I found myself genuinely caring about all of them and completely invested in where their stories would go.
The relationships felt honest and believable, and at times I was torn, not quite sure who to side with, which made it all the more compelling.
Her writing is effortless, thoughtful and moving, but also warm and familiar in a way that stays with you after you’ve finished.
It’s an incredibly strong debut from Sophie Stern, and if this is just the beginning, I’ll definitely be looking out for whatever she writes next…hopefully a sequel.