The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream

A Novel

By: Jeannie Zusy

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine meets Early Morning Riser with a dash of Where’d You Go, Bernadette in this “funny and insightful” (Real Simple) novel about one woman whose life is turned upside down when she becomes caregiver to her sister with special needs.

Every family has its fault lines, and when Maggie gets a call from the ER in Maryland where her older sister lives, the cracks start to appear. Ginny, her sugar-loving and diabetic older sister with intellectual disabilities, has overdosed on strawberry Jell-O.

Maggie knows Ginny really can’t live on her own, so she brings her sister and her occasionally vicious dog to live near her in upstate New York. Their other sister, Betsy, is against the idea but as a professional surfer, she is conveniently thousands of miles away.

Thus, Maggie’s life as a caretaker begins. It will take all of her dark humor and patience, already spread thin after a separation, raising two boys, freelancing, an ex who just won’t go away, and starting a dating life, to deal with Ginny’s diapers, sugar addiction, porn habit, and refusal to cooperate. “The Frederick sisters will have you laughing out loud—often through tears—in this roller coaster ride of a novel that explores what it means to be family” (Tracey Lange, New York Times bestselling author).

Critic reviews

"Zusy’s debut novel introduces three adult sisters faced with the health crisis of the middle sister. Gabra Zackman gives Maggie, who tells the story, emotions that range from confidence to frustration to self-pity. Maggie must move the ailing sister, Ginny, who also has intellectual disabilities, from Maryland to New York to more closely monitor her care. Maggie is also navigating a broken marriage, two sons, and a freelance career. Ginny’s voice is flat but adamant as she fights to keep her independence in spite of her physical and mental limitations. Eldest sister Bets, living in California, appears rarely, using that distance to avoid the messy work of relationships. Immigrant nannies Philomena and Lika are given appropriate accents as they provide nonjudgmental care for their challenging patient."

Enjoyed being a part of the Fredrick sisters lives

It took me a little while to get into the story but once I did it was a truly enjoyable book. Glad I stuck with it.

Introspective and Realistic

The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream wasn’t quite what I expected. I went in hoping for a funny, lighthearted road trip/sister story, but instead found a more subdued and often heavy exploration of family responsibility and resentment. It leans much more toward a realistic—and at times depressing—portrait of caring for an adult special-needs sibling in decline, layered with the stress of an absentee, unappreciative older sister, an ex-husband, disappointing dating prospects, and the complications of raising two grown sons.

Some of the most striking moments come from how painfully familiar the family dynamics feel. When the younger son doesn’t get into college, his reaction spirals into drinking, getting sick, and ultimately lashing out—blaming his mother’s past infidelity for “messing him up” and even tying it to his college-application rejection. It’s messy and frustrating, but also very believable in a way that hits close to home.

What stands out thematically is how blame cycles through the family. The protagonist, already overwhelmed, directs her frustration toward her special-needs sister, seeing her as a barrier to the life she imagined for herself. There’s an uncomfortable sense of “what goes around comes around” in these moments, as the story shows how unresolved resentment can echo across relationships.

While the book offers an honest look at caregiving, obligation, and disappointment, it lacks the humor and sense of escape the premise seemed to promise. It’s thoughtful and grounded, but not uplifting, and the emotional weight can feel relentless.

In the end, it’s a solid read—worth picking up if you’re in the mood for something more introspective and realistic, but potentially disappointing if you’re expecting a breezy, comedic journey.

Great Book

This books really delves into the many roles that women take on and does so with humor and wit.
The characters seem so very real . I love how they are are fully developed. Highly recommend.

The story is told in first person. I did not care for any of the main characters.

Witty & funny, compassionate & poignant!

What a wonderful read! Kept me wanting more! Maybe a sequel is in the works? The characters are all so colorful, descriptions & dialogue are written in just enough depth that I feel I know the whole family! The reading of the book clinched the deal. Every character had clearly their own identity, a challenge when only one person is telling the tale. I highly recommend this book, especially the audio version!