In 1920, Minnie (Malka) Soffer emigrates with her mother and brother Max (Schmerka) to the US, from Ukraine. She barely recognises her father Ike (Isaac), who has been in the US for some time, but he soon comes to realise that Minnie is a chip-off-the-old-block, far more like him in spunk and determination than her brother. At age 12, no longer able to attend school, Minnie is sent to work in a factory doing gruelling work for a pittance, so she challenges her father to let her do what Max does part-time – running for the mob. Her father, himself heavily involved with the mob, forbids her, but the 19-year-old Meyer Lansky steps in to give her a try. When financial problems overtake the family, Ike opens up a soda bar as a front for a low-class basement speakeasy, running expenses as soda shop supplies, all purchased from mob bootleggers. But when tragedy after tragedy strikes the family, Minnie steps up, against all advice, and takes over the bar. There she unwisely falls for Duke, her mob supplier, and by crossing the wrong people, brings extreme danger to herself and her loyal employees.

Brown’s novel is a speedy read which keeps readers on their toes with constant action and plot tension. Dialogue is effortlessly smooth. Details of time and place move with the times, as the novel progresses from the early twenties into the thirties, the Depression and Prohibition, when mobsters made a killing on illegal bootlegging. Minnie refuses to be torn apart by family tragedy and just gets stronger throughout the novel, despite facing extraordinary odds. Brown’s novel spotlights the coming-of-age of a feisty female lead who is prepared to fight for her place in a man’s world. A definite recommendation for TBR lists.

The Whisper Sister
Author Jennifer S. Brown
Available now!

Thank you, @getredprbooks, @brownjennys, and #lakeunionpublishing, for my #gifted copy of this beautiful novel!

Friends, I loved this one! Minnie is absolutely amazing - fiery, determined, resilient, and an absolute force to be reckoned with. Written solely from her point of view, she is my latest leading lady! I learned so much from this unique historical fiction novel - all about the Prohibition era and the danger, crime, and underground mobs associated with it and so much about the Jewish religion, customs, and traditions. I was completely engrossed and read this just over 400- page novel in 3 days. Filled with loyalty and deception, prosperity and hardship, friendship and love, and the power of community, Minnie's speakeasy is a place I loved to experience through Jennifer's storytelling.

It’s been awhile since I’ve been completely engrossed by a historical fiction novel, but I’m happy to say The Whisper Sister is absolutely the book that did it for me.

When I saw the synopsis, I thought oh fun, a book about the 1920s - flappers, speakeasies, good times! But I quickly realized that this wasn’t a romanticized look at a period in U.S. history that was tumultuous and dangerous for so many. Instead, it’s a gritty, often heartbreaking look at the life of Minnie Soffer, a Jewish immigrant who continues to persevere against all odds.

After coming to the U.S. from Ukraine as a young girl, Minnie tries her best to assimilate to her new life. As the years go by, her family flourishes and struggles in turn, and experiences a horrible tragedy. Left reeling and suddenly in charge, Minnie struggles to find her place in the new role and is forced to make a devastating choice that impacts the rest of her life and the decisions she makes from that point on.

The opening chapter absolutely hooked me and I had to continue reading to find out the story behind this amazing “whisper sister” - a female proprietor of a speakeasy. Minnie is truly a force to be reckoned with, and this novel was unputdownable. I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys historical fiction about Prohibition, immigrant stories, and organized crime.

This was such a good historical fiction. I loved the main character Minnie, and it was emotional throughout. I was a little surprised on the span of time that this book covered but I’m not mad about it. I did enjoy her adulthood a little more than her childhood, but it made for good character development. While it was a rollercoaster, I loved the parts surrounding the bar. Getting to see how the speakeasies operated really interested me. I am a fan of mixed drinks and I loved Minnie's creativeness surrounding it. I listened to the audio while reading along sometimes and the narrator took it to another level. Each character’s accent and personality came through wonderfully and I could feel the emotion as if I were there.

Thank you @getredprbooks @brownjennys and publisher #lakeunion.

This is a fantastic book. I loved and savored every word.

Plot summary: Minnie immigrates to the U.S. as a 10-year old in 1920 on the day of the passing of the Volstead Act, bringing in the era of prohibition. As she tries to acclimate and figure out her identity as a Jewish immigrant, her father gets involved in organized crime, and slowly, her family breaks apart and her world comes crashing down. Minnie picks up the pieces by taking over her father's bar, but a romantic liaison threatens everything she has built..

There were so many wonderful aspects of this book. The setting is so real, so well done. I just read a non-fiction work that depicts this era of Jewish organized crime (Dan Slater's fabulous The Incorruptables), so I already knew many names and how things worked. The novel does it justice.

The plot moves along at a steady pace, with just the right amount of ups and downs and building tension. Even though there's not much mystery here, you feel suspense because you want to know how things are going to play out. There are clues that things aren't as they seem, but you don't know exactly what until it culminates in a shocking twist.

Minnie is an amazing character that you want to root for. She is fierce but feminine, strong but vulnerable. Things get her down, but she picks herself up again each time. The other characters are well-developed, each with a unique personality.

There are themes of identity and family that are wonderfully woven throughout the story. It has a heartwarming ending. I found it hard to put this book down.

I was originally nervous to pick this up because I have read quite a few books recently that are off in their portrayal of Jews, and more specifically Orthodox Jews. I'm glad I gave it a chance. This was beautifully done, nuanced, positive, and non-judgmental to all kinds of Jewish observance. There is a good amount of Hebrew and Yiddish, but I think it's explained well. The themes are universal.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Jennifer Brown for an advanced copy for review.

In The Whisper Sister, America is the land of opportunity; but it is also the land of sacrifice. It's 1920 and Jewish immigrant Malka Soffer has arrived at Ellis Island with her mother and brother (her father arrived years prior, to establish himself and a life there for them). But Malka quickly learns how idealistic and naive she had been about life in America. The America she lives in is defined by hardship and is too often dangerous. Set in the Prohibition era, The Whisper Sister will show you the dazzling side of speakeasies and clubs but also the darker, corrupt undercurrents that fuel them. And consider yourself warned, author Jennifer S. Brown leans all the way in. There are painful moments and loss. I ugly cried while reading this. Twice. My heart hurt. There were times I had to put the book down before I could keep reading because my heart needed a pause. But I was always compelled to pick it back up. It is a propulsive read. What doesn't kill Malka makes her stronger.

This is a five star read that I absolutely recommend you pick up. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for the ARC. The Whisper Sister is out now!

As THE WHISPER SISTER opens, readers are right there on Ellis Island, as Minnie and her family are reunited with their father who had traveled to the United States before them. But as joyful as this moment is, Minnie’s toughest battles lay before her. The setting is prohibition days in NYC, an era that Jennifer Brown brings to life while weaving accurate historical detail into the narrative. It’s all there on every page, vivid descriptions of the smells, the sights, and the sounds of the busy city, from the hidden bars with its dangerous mobsters to a prison and to crowded tenement housing. Minnie is part of it all as she accepts responsibilities well beyond her age and training—first filling the role of a loving mother, and then assuming her father’s responsibility as a business owner. She does what she must in order to survive.
This saga of an immigrant’s life is one that centers around family and faith. What a beautiful story! I could not put it down. And with a whisper, I raise this toast to life, “L’Chaim.”

Instead of a whisper, this book earns a loud, resounding FABULOUS! This story took me back to my early childhood in my Grandma’s Brooklyn apartment where delicious aromas emanated from the kitchen and Yiddish was spoken so the “kinder wouldn’t understand.” This is the story of the Soffer family who emigrated from Russia (now Ukraine) to the tenements of New York City. As the family tries to adjust to the language and culture, Minnie and her brother Max are determined to fit in and be real Americans. It’s the 1920’s and prohibition has become the law but despite this, Ike Soffer believes there is money to be made for his family and he makes decisions that will set them all on a trajectory they could never have imagined. Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the talented Jennifer Brown for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this fabulous book! Mazel Tov!

This is my first book by this author, and it will not be my last. The title and the cover are what drew me in and had me wanting to read this book. This book did not disappoint, it is about an immigrant family that comes from Ukraine to America with the promise of a better life. The book follows Malka aka Minne, and her brother Max is his American name. As they go through trial and tribulations as individuals and as a family Minnie and Max are trying to navigate this new world and learn who they are in a foreign land. This book has happiness, sadness, action packed with a hint of hidden romance within it, it has family trials and tribulations. This book is based on the roaring 20's, during speakeasies, mobsters and does not disappoint. if you are looking for a book that you can't put down than this is the book for you. However, I highly suggest if you are a person who has trigger warnings that you look at them before reading this book. I absolutely loved Minnie's and Max's characters i felt like they resonated with myself and how i am as a person. I highly recommend this book.

Drink your bourbon neat, pay your debts on time, and trust no one!

The Whisper Sister is an atmospheric coming-of-age story set in Prohibition-era New York, tracing one immigrant family’s fortunes and a young girl’s journey from the schoolyard to the speakeasy.

My thoughts 💭: I was really drawn into this immersive 1920’s Prohibition era NYC setting, from the crowded tenement apartments to the ritzy nightclubs and the gang controlled neighborhood speakeasys! The author paints a picture of hardship, poverty, community, and determination as readers follow Minnie’s journey from arriving in American to becoming one of the most well-known bar owners in the Jewish community. Minnie’s struggles to find her identity in a new country while challenging religious, gender and cultural norms was full of drama and growth that kept me turning the pages! Her spirit of perseverance was admirable and a story I will remember for many years. I highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy books featuring coming of age arcs, immigrant experiences, Jewish interests, danger/action, and strong female characters.

The Whisper Sister by Jennifer S. Brown is a wonderfully written historical fiction novel.
These characters were amazing and I enjoyed their story.

Thank you @getredprbooks @lakeunionauthors #partner for the free eARC!

You had me at speakeasy! I LOVED this book! This is what I love about the book world…this one wasn’t even on my radar and thanks for my friends @getredprbooks I grabbed it and was immediately transported to NYC in the 1920s with my new friend Minnie!

Minnie, who in fact was not born named Minnie, is growing up in NYC in the 1920’s. Her father left the Ukraine in search for the American Dream and what it’s got them is a mattress on a dingy floor and barely making ends meet. It’s definitely not an easy life. However, one day Minnie’s father says he’s opening a soda shop and Minnie is instantly intrigued. What she soon finds out is this soda shop is just a front for her father’s speakeasy. But alas, they fall upon hard times and tragic events which leaves Minnie having to step up and take over the bar. This isn’t an easy feat being a woman but someone has to try and keep things going for her family!

Wowza like I said, I loved this one. It was such an emotional journey filled with heartbreak and rooting for the underdog. It was hard at times reading about how Minnie had to really grow up before she was ready but at the same time it made me lover her even more. She really rose to the challenge and held her head high the whole way through. She was lovable, courageous, confident and had grit…what more could you want in a character? I also loved walking in the shoes of this Jewish immigrant and learning what it would have been like coming through Ellis Island and those times as a whole. If you love historical fiction I cannot recommend this one enough!

When does an immigrant become an American? For Minnie Soffer it might be when she opened a speakeasy in the midst of Prohibition. After leaving Ukraine with her mom and brother, they reunite with her father. Soon she discovers and is attracted to the fact her dad works for a mob boss. Minnie’s life quickly spirals into tragedy but her story is one of perseverance especially as a young Jewish woman in the 1920s. Between inventing cocktails to mask the taste of bad alcohol, Minnie falls in love and writes her own definition of the American Dream.

In 1920, when Minnie Soffer arrives with her mother and brother from Ellis Island, she enters a new life, she becomes an American. Her father arrived before them, and he no longer looks like the Orthodox Jewish man he was in Ukraine and she realizes that like her father, she too must learn to adapt. It turns out her father has become a bootlegger and owns a speakeasy, he works with some of the more dangerous criminals in NYC - he has adapted far more than she realized. When tragedy strikes the family, Minnie must take over the bar and as a young woman in very much a man’s world she must learn to adapt yet again, the question is what price will she pay.

What a great novel! This gives a bit of the immigrant experience in the early 1920s, the antisemitism experienced in New York City at that time and then the bootlegger side of society - and it really doesn’t feel like the author overextended, it’s a perfect mix of NYC in the 1920s. While the novel tells of a Jewish immigrant experience, this is a story of many immigrants, feeling and being treated like an outsider, the poverty, having the “wrong” accent. Minnie is a great character, a teenager forcibly cast in the role of an adult trying to outwardly show strength while glimmers of that teenage girl can’t help but shine through. The audiobook captivated me instantly and I listened to it as I packed up for Labor Day weekend - this novel works both on audio or on the page (I did both). This historical period is rich with stories and I think the author captured a wonderful one here.

4.25 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union for the ARC

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and author Jennifer Brown, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for September 3, 2024.

I have to mention, that I was inspired to read The Whisper Sister after reading the stellar review written by my GR friend, Tina, and I encourage you to jump on over and have a read of her review.

🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸5 highly inebriated alcoholic stars

The 1920s is one of my favourite time period settings. Collectively speaking it’s a vibrant and alive period of time. The 1920s was the first decade to have a nickname: “Roaring 20s" or "Jazz Age." It was a decade of prosperity and dissipation; jazz bands, bootleggers, raccoon coats, bathtub gin, flappers, flagpole sitters, bootleggers, and speakeasies. The 1920s heralded a brave new world that emerged from the devastation of World War I. America was in turmoil in terms of political and social reform with more and more people rebelling against the traditional ways of life which stemmed from the Victorian times. This change brought opportunity, and criminals around the world found ways to cash in on developing illegal markets.

At the beginning of the decade known as the ‘Roaring Twenties’, America had just entered the Prohibition era where liquor and other alcoholic beverages were illegal between the years of 1920 and 1933. This resulted in the formation of illicit Speakeasies and at one point, there were thought to be over 100,000 Speakeasies in New York alone. The phrase, ‘Speakeasy’ originates from a term that bartenders used where people needed to, “speak easy” (quietly), when ordering at the bar in order to not draw attention to the prohibited act of buying alcohol. When a woman ran a secret speakeasy she was known as a “Whisper Sister”. In order to gain access to these illicit bars, a password, specific handshake or secret knock was required. Furthermore, slang words for alcohol such as ‘coffin varnish,’ ‘monkey rum’ and ‘tarantula juice’ were created to fool police and neighbours. Police forces, their numbers reduced by war, were caught on the back foot. Their work was made harder by the fact that laws did not always keep up with the pace of criminal evolution.

Don’t be fooled by the title, The Whisper Sister is loud and proud!

This is the story of the Soffer family, a Jewish Ukrainian family who emigrated to New York during the 1920s, just as Prohibition was declared; although, it’s the family’s eldest daughter, Malka (Minnie) who is most central to this story.

January 17, 1920: the day Prohibition began in the United States, and the day Minnie and her mother and brother stepped onto Ellis Island in New York, leaving behind their homeland of Ukraine. Waiting on the docks for the boat to arrive was Ike Soffer, Minnie's father, who had arrived a few years earlier, settled in New York and then called for his family. Minnie was brimming with excitement, this ‘coming to America’ heralded a new start for the family. A new life. A better life.

But Minnie Soffer will quickly learn that the streets of New York were not paved with gold.

The Whisper Sister is a story about reality versus the imaginary and shines a spotlight on what it was like to enter the country as an immigrant in the early 1900s. It’s a story about the strength and resilience. It’s a story of lies, love and devastating betrayals. It’s a story of passion and shocking violence. But above all, it’s a story about family and sacrifice and striving to make a better life for yourself and those you love.

The Whisper Sister will be among my favourite reads of 2024, I loved every written word. Just like one of Minnie’s well-mixed “specials”, Jennifer Brown has delivered an enticing blend of historical fiction and family drama. Brown’s character development in The Whisper Sister is worthy of praise. Minnie is depicted with a harsh authenticity and it’s her mixture of strength and vulnerabilities that make her such a vivid character. You can feel the tension as Minnie struggles to find the right balance between her duty to her family and her own dreams and desires.

Highly recommended for those who love historical fiction and indeed, to any reader wanting to pick up a well-written and engaging novel.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Lake Union Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

The Whisper Sister is a phenomenal piece of historical fiction. Minnie Soffer’s life in America begins when she arrives with her mother and brother at Ellis Island on the very day Prohibition begins. From the first chapter I was hooked, and this book took me on a journey through all manner of emotions along with Minnie - despair, anger, fear, loneliness, hope, comfort, love.

Minnie Soffer is my favorite kind of protagonist - a brave, inspiring woman who endures so so much, perseveres against all odds, and is stronger for it. I learned a lot, I cried a little, and at the end, I hugged my Kindle.

Many thanks to Jennifer S. Brown, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC. Now, I’m off to find her other book, Modern Girls!

‘Whisper Sister’ is set in Prohibition era New York. It’s a coming of age story following Minnie Soffer, a Ukrainian who is arriving at Ellis Island with her mother and brother Max. Their father, Ike, will be waiting for them, having arrived seven years earlier.

Minnie was just a toddler when she last saw her father, and her arrival in this place where the ‘streets are paved with gold’, and filled with hopes and dreams is a huge disappointment. She has to sleep on a mattress, and she doesn’t understand the language which makes school particularly difficult. However, Minnie works hard to learn the language and begins to make friends, slowly settling in to this new life thousands of miles from her homeland.

Ike eventually opens a soda shop, but all is not what it seems, it’s actually a speakeasy where alcoholic beverages were being sold and consumed in secret. It was a dangerous business to be involved in, and speakeasy’s actually contributed to the rise of organized crime in the United States.

When things go badly wrong for Ike, Minnie takes over the bar, but she will face not only heartache, but danger is waiting around every corner.

This was a well written, well researched book, with the atmosphere of 1920s New York being richly depicted, along with the dangerous underbelly of the speakeasy’s. Minnie is a fascinating character, and I loved her determination to overcome the many obstacles placed in her way. A wonderful read!

I couldn't put this book down and can't wait to read more by this author!
This book offers a glimpse of life for immigrants to America in the 1920s, from the first impressions upon catching sight of the Statue of Liberty, then following their journey as they settle in to their new home and face many hardships. There are so many facts woven into the story, and I was quickly so immersed in the pages that all else was ignored. The author has a writing style that draws you in instantly. She paints a vivid picture of 1920s New York, the living conditions, the speakeasys that were set up during prohibition, religious beliefs & celebrations, the struggle to survive when faced with immense hardship. This is a story of strength, determination, survival, love, loss and community. I felt all the emotions in this book and found the characters well developed and their stories plausible... I hope there is another book to follow!

I highly recommend that you add this to your list - it's one of my favourite books so far this year!

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Jennifer S. Brown for an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

'...you just arrived. You will see how America works. Everything is different'.

Malka and Shmerka arrive with their mother, after a long trip from Ukraine, to reunite with their father in New York City, in January 1920. It's immediately apparent that they've been transplanted into a whole new world, and nothing will be the same, including, evidently, their names. Malka quickly becomes Minnie and her brother Shmerka is changed to Max. But this is America - anything is possible - and during the Prohibition era, plenty is possible. Minnie's dad decides to try and make his own dreams come true by opening a speakeasy. It may be against the law, and it may involve borrowing money from a mobster but it's an opportunity to give his family everything they dreamed of. However, when a series of tragedies visit the Soffer family, it's up to Minnie to discover who she really is and create her own destiny and identity by taking the speakeasy over and becoming a 'whisper sister' - a woman who runs a bar. Her Papa told her to rely on no one and her illicit role flies in the face of her religion but Minnie believes she can do it all on her own. However, her father also used to say believing you can do it all, is the first sign that you can't.

This is a highly readable story that covers so much about the 1920s in New York- immigrants, mobsters, speakeasies. It is essentially in two parts. One covers Minnie growing up from a child to a young adult, and the other is Minnie's real education.

'Home is where your people are, Mama had once said. My people were here. In America'.

The Whisper Sister is a historical fiction book about a Jewish family coming to the USA from Ukraine in the 1920s to pursue a better life. The Soffer family arrives on Ellis Island the same day the Prohibition law goes into effect. Minnie, Max, and their mother join Ike, Minnie's and Max's father, who arrived in the country years earlier. We follow Minnie and her family as they adjust to life in NYC and assimilate into American culture. The Soffer family experiences many hardships and prejudices while adjusting to their new life. To provide for his family, Ike opens a speakeasy. When Ike gets arrested, Minnie takes over the family business, even though she knows that running an illegal establishment as a young woman comes with many risks.

I loved Minnie. She is a strong and courageous heroine, devoted to her family and determined to build a better life for her loved ones. I appreciated reading about the Jewish community in NYC and the Jewish immigrant experience. The Whisper Sister has all the elements of an outstanding historical fiction novel: a compelling story, a fascinating historical setting, complex and interesting characters, drama, and romance. The Whisper Sister is one of my favorite books of 2024. I cannot recommend it enough!