Girls is a touching story about two sisters, Matilda and Nora, and their difficult family life.. The book is full of ups and downs, making you laugh and cry along with the characters. It's a moving tale about love, loss, and the strength to overcome tough times. A heartfelt read

Overall I loved reading this book, especially discovering the family dynamics that brought the girls close but also apart and how these experiences can define or change us.

Girls in the first book I have read by Kirsty Capes and I enjoyed it so much I now need to go and read her previous novels!

Girls is a novel voiced by Matilda (the eldest daughter of artist Ingrid Olsen) who tells the story of her and her sister’s lives. Their mother, who was just as well known for falling out of bars and nightclubs as her art, left the girls to mostly fend for themselves as they grew up, Karolina, their aunt, was sometimes a presence in their lives, but their absent father was based in America with his new family, Whilst trying to look after herself and her sister, Matilda had a baby - Beanie - when she was seventeen with her childhood sweetheart, Gus, who is now a successful lawyer. The story starts around the anniversary of their mother’s death as a writer is writing a biography of Ingrid which coincides with their aunt’s plans to set up an exhibition of Ingrid’s work in America.

I found this to be propulsive and compelling reading, finishing it in a few sittings. The characters felt original and Matilda’s narration was a believable voice. The whole story felt authentic and unique and provides a great read. I recently read a book on Netgalley dealing with similar themes: sisters, family, death and grief, but this outshines it completely.

Utterly compelling reading. Girls reads like a deeper, more literary version of Daisy Jones and the Six, one that takes an unashamedly honest look at the impact of trauma on mental health and how truly dis functional families can be. At the same time there are hopeful, funny moments that lift the narrative and make this a must-read. Loved it

Kirsty Capes is an incredibly talented, versatile author. I have read her previous two novels… Careless and Love me, Love me not which in themselves had very distinct identities, and Girls is another change of direction. A joy to find an author that will keep you guessing what she’ll write next.
Girls tells the story of two sisters, Matilda and Nora, who are the daughters of a late celebrated, successful and notorious artist. A great artist, but not a great mother. After years of little contact, the sisters are brought back together in the aftermath of their mothers death, dealing with a biographer who seems to be getting far too close for comfort, and their Aunt who wants to bring together an exhibition of their mothers work. As childhood wounds are reopened, so the healing of their relationship could begin. But both are really scarred from their childhood where they were regularly abandoned by their parents, led to fend for themselves , and those scars might just be too deep.
I laughed and I cried. I adored this family. My heart soared and it crashed. It has all the emotions, and I loved it.