I liked, but certainly didn't love, this book about the relationship between two sisters. Meghan is the fabulously wealthy, incredibly famous, much beloved star of a morning television talk show. Her younger sister Bridget is a social worker in the Bronx. Meghan's seemingly perfect life changes when she inadvertantly curses on air while cutting to a commercial. Bridget, used to living in her older sister's shadow, feels the effect of the mistake as well. Their story of how they deal with the fallout, told by Bridget, follows from there. It is certainly an easy read. Most of the characters are interesting, but I didn't really connect to any of them. At one point toward the end Bridget lashes out at her sister. While I assume it was supposed to be a pivotal moment, I found it to be random -- completely out of character and nonsensical for Bridget to come to the conclusion she did. I thought a story about sisters would resonate with me because I have six, but instead it was simply a pleasant read with a contrived ending.

Also, perhaps it is just me, but I wish people who live in New York City understood that those of us who don't live there don't spend our every waking moment wondering what it must be like and wishing to understand all its idiosyncrasies. Almost every chapter began with some piece of information about NYC that I am sure I was supposed to treat as the reveal of a great mystery, but most of the time the information was not novel to NYC. My favorite was a long discussion about how people who don't live there don't understand that you can't lose yourself in New York because New Yorkers know each other, recognizing their neighbors even if they don't know their names. Huh? Does Ms. Quindlen really think people in Cleveland or Houston or Chicago or even any small town in the US don't have the same experience? Early on Bridget says New York is the center of the universe; her lengthy comments about the city didn't persuade me. ( )

This was an easy book to read, enjoyable, light reading. It's a very modern retelling of the ancient riches-to-rags, humble-sister-saves-the-day story. I enjoy the crispness of Quindlen's writing, as well as her humor, but I felt that she just skimmed the surface of her characters. ( )

Anna Quindlen's latest novel Rise and Shine is a story of 2 sister who have taken very different paths. One is a very successful TV personality and the other is a nonprofit paid social worker.

The TV personality suffers a professional and social halt when she inadvertently curses when she thought her mike was off. Unable to face her marital and these professional difficulties, she escapes to a place of extreme solitude.

The sister Bridget, a social worker at a women's shelter, begins a search for her when other adversity befalls the family. ( )

Really enjoyed it. Interesting characters.

A little slow to start, but very relateable and human. ( )