“A Sister Ago” by Caitlin Buhr

A Sister Ago

Caitlin Buhr
Atmosphere Press (2024)
ISBN:  979-8891322325
Reviewed by Stephanie Elizabeth Long for Reader Views (06/2024)

The pain of losing a loved one never truly heals. Still, Christine has been making strides toward a brighter future by focusing on her career as a caseworker in Seattle. That is, of course, until one phone call sends her spiraling back into grief. The stranger on the other end of the phone identifies herself as Keji, claiming that Christine’s former therapist had given Keji Christine’s number.

The women plan on confronting Dr. Walter Anderson for breach of confidentiality. Upon meeting with Walter, Christine unearths a shocking revelation. Walter had been treating both Christine’s sister Rachel and Keji’s brother Yota before they overdosed on drugs. What does this mean? Could the therapist have somehow contributed to Rachel’s death?

“A Sister Ago” by Caitlin Buhr is a poignant novel about family, addiction, and grief. The writing weaves in and out of the present with the narrative primarily focusing on Christine but briefly switches to Rachel’s perspective. Buhr highlights the murky relationship between the sisters—the resentment, jealousy, and secrets—as Christine reflects upon Rachel’s life leading up to her untimely death. The reflection evokes deep emotion within Christine—anger, sorrow, and an insurmountable guilt that weighs heavy on her heart. Burning questions that will never be answered haunt her. Had she been a good enough sister? If she’d come back home sooner, would Rachel still be alive?

The quest for solace can be long and arduous, often met with frustration and obstacles. The author has done an excellent job of demonstrating Christine’s journey of uncovering the truth about Rachel’s afflictions. The characters she encounters along the way (Keji, Yota, Meli, Serena) aid in Christine’s healing, and each one seems to teach her something new about herself, thus enabling her to view her sister’s short life with acceptance and compassion.

This emotionally driven book will appeal to readers drawn to stories exploring the human condition—the beauty, the suffering, and the love. If you embrace heavier topics such as drug addiction and mental illness, “A Sister Ago” by Caitlin Buhr is for you. Despite the novel’s sorrowful premise, many moments brought me joy and enabled me to see the world in another way, prompting existential questions.