THE GIFT OF FAITH, while a romance, is also very much a story about sisters and the bond between them. Faith is a twin, and she has always been the quiet sister, the responsible sister, the good Amish girl. Meanwhile, her sister Mercy is on a different path, needing to go out into the world to figure out that home was where she needed to be all along. But Mercy and Faith’s paths are entwined in such a way that Mercy’s decisions impact Faith’s life in very big ways. But Faith’s love for Mercy is so great, that she will do anything she can to help her sister.
Sisters are one of my favorite character dynamics to write. Not the contentious and often cliché “mean sister” or “mean step-sister” relationships, but relationships that are close, and kind, even when personalities or choices are so very different. It’s a dynamic that is a treat to write, and I think to read or see on screen.
For fun, I’ve come up with my own top 10 list of my favorite sister relationships in books & movies.
- White Christmas – Betty & Judy
If you haven’t seen this Hollywood classic, the two sisters in this movie are a vaudeville/stage act together. Very close. I mean, they actually sing a song called “Sisters.”
- Frozen – Anna & Elsa
We see love in the form of sacrifice with these two. Preciously close as children, Elsa is willing to put distance between them to keep her sister safe from herself. And Anna is willing to give her life at the end to save her sister. Very much a new twist (and appreciated) for Disney, making the central love story actually a sister story.
- Meet Me in St. Louis – Esther & Rose (but also Tootie & Agnes)
This movie shows such a fun dynamic between sisters. Loving and yet realistic moments of irritation. We also get to see the way they pair off by age but are still close despite age gaps. It’s obvious the older sisters spend a lot of time with the young. Wouldn’t you love to be Tootie with such terrific big sisters?
- Practical Magic – Sally & Gillian
This is a terrific example of sisters who are very, very different. The rule follower and the wild child. And yet they are so incredibly close. I also love the older aunts who are also sisters, giving us a look at how Sally and Gillian will likely be in years to come. The magic is just a fun side note.
- 10 Things I Hate About You / The Taming of the Shrew (Kat/Katherine & Bianca)
One of my favorite Shakespeare plays, the teen adaptation from the 90s is one of my favorite films ever. I will say, I prefer the film in terms of the sisters’ relationship. Kat and Bianca are so different that they don’t get along. In fact, they resent each other and how they impact each others’ lives. And yet you see these pockets of love and growing understanding and accepting of each other as the story progresses.
- Pride & Prejudice – Elizabeth & Jane (but also Mary, Kitty, & Lydia)
We can’t have a list of sisters without these two (or five). Obviously, the relationship between Elizabeth and Jane is the closer one. They share their dreams and worries and lives. Elizabeth’s relationship with Darcy is directly impacted by his treatment of her sister. But it’s also fun to see the other three sister personalities and dynamics. We also get to see sisterly love despite not approving of or agreeing with a sibling’s choices. Maybe the hardest love of all when it comes to family.
- A League of Their Own – Dottie & Kit
I love this pair with little sister very much in big sister’s shadow. Yet, instead of estranging them, they are still close. I also love the growth of the relationship with Kit eventually needing to break away to get out of that shadow. Yet we still know at the end that these two will remain close, despite moving on to lead very different and separate lives.
- Sense & Sensibility – Elinor & Marianne (& Margaret)
There is no denying Jane Austen writes sisters well, maybe because of her own relationship with her sister. This book (and fantastic 90s movie adaptation) is definitely a sister dynamic between two very, very different personalities Elleanor & Marianne (Margaret is more comic relief). In fact, the title is about the two elder sisters. The story shows so well the impact being each other’s almost sole companions—the deep love, the hope for each other’s futures, the heartbreaking worry. But there’s also the realistic portrayal of not sharing everything with that person, or not approving of that person’s behavior or choices…and yet still loving through that, or maybe loving more because of that.
- My Sister’s Keeper – Anna & Kate (spoiler alert)
If you want a good sob, read this one by Jodi Picoult. The movie is good too, but as is usually the case, the book is better. You spend most of the story thinking Anna is making this massive decision just for herself, for her own self-preservation. It’s an incredibly difficult decision that will hurt her parents who she loves, and also hurt her sister who she obviously loves. It’s not until the end that you find out making this decision wasn’t her idea, but Kate’s. That Anna is hurting the people she loves most—including herself since she knows the life and death consequences—because of her deep love for her sister and Kate’s needs and wants.
- Little Women – Jo, Beth, Meg, & Amy
One of my favorite books (and every movie adaptation), the relationship between these sisters is entirely what makes this book so special. Every other sister story out there featuring multiple sisters, you see at least a bit of a divide as they group off (usually by age or temperament). And that is realistic, but in Little Women, while you see that a little, you still see that they have beautiful, deep, and yet different and complex relationships with each sister. You see all four of them—both together and in different pair dynamics—so incredibly close and loving, and yet they are each very individual. In fact, these sisters are individual to the point that there are aspects about each that the others just don’t understand. We also get to see them through years—growing up into women, moving on to things like marriage and babies, careers and loss. We get to see those relationships change through the phases of life. Which I think is precious to acknowledge that life will change relationships, even close ones.
What about you? What other fictional sisters would you add to this list?
THE GIFT OF FAITH by Kristen McKanagh
The rewards of faith are plentiful in this sweet Amish romance from the author of The Gift of Joy.
The quietest of the three Kanagy boys, Daniel, would prefer to spend his time keeping his bees and selling the honey rather than tending his family’s gift shop. But with both his brothers breaking away from the family business, his parents need Daniel more than ever.
Contrary to town gossip, Faith Kemp didn’t jump the fence—she left to track down her twin sister, Mercy. When Faith returns home with a newborn baby, the rumors are tough to set right, and not everyone in the community is welcoming. To help support her family, Faith sells dried flower arrangements to the popular gift shop in town. Each visit, she looks forward to seeing Daniel Kanagy. He doesn’t say much, but his steady strength speaks to her just the same.
With girls buzzing around Daniel and trying to catch his eye, why would he turn his gaze to a quiet, plain girl who has a baby and too many rumors about her?
Romance | Amish [Berkley, On Sale: April 11, 2023, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593199909 / eISBN: 9780593199916]
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About Kristen McKanagh
Romance author Kristen McKanagh writes sweet contemporary romance & Amish romance. She loves plots that warm the heart, feisty heroines with sass, heroes with heart, a dash of snark, and oodles of HEAs! Other titles include wife, mother, Star Wars geek, ex-competitive skydiver, spreadsheet lover, eMBA, organizational guru, Texan, Aggie, and chocoholic.
Kristen attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing) and an MBA. However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.
Kristen currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own swoon-worthy hero, their amazing kids, who are growing up way too fast, and 2 adorable fur babies.
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