Each chapter in Allegra Goodman’s new novel is a vignette having to do with a family whose matriarchs are sisters Helen, Sylvia and Jean. Each sister has been married at least once, each have children, two have grandchildren, and the two surviving sisters are no longer speaking to each other. With each vignette, the reader learns more about this east coast Jewish family.

Even if you’re not Jewish I think you would enjoy This Is Not About Us. However, if you are Jewish, I think you would thoroughly enjoy the characters, the situations and the dilemmas even more. This Is Not About Us is humorous and heart-warming. I read it in two days, and with each chapter found this somewhat stereotypical family more and more delightful.