T
Tarheelreader
December 15, 2022
Verified Purchase
An easy favorite for 2022
Let me tell you about one of my favorite books of 2022:
Did you remember when you were reading a book, especially one you loved? I will always remember I was reading The Cherry Robbers in the days and weeks before and after my dad passed away. It was just the type of book I needed to read because I was fully immersed and invested, and the flawless writing and well-developed characters were always present in my mind. I could go a week without picking it up and fall right back into it, which brought immense comfort.
The story of five affluent, but sheltered, sisters living in a “wedding cake” house amid a backdrop of gothic atmosphere, one by one each sister dies after she is married. It’s brilliant, twisty, perfectly paced, thought-provoking, and wowee, did it ever have me turning the pages. I’ll be forever grateful to Sarai Walker for this story that brought me comfort, distraction, and grounding, during a time when I’ve felt lost. Everyone needs to be talking about this one. Everyone needs to read it. I LOVED IT.
K
Kindle Customer
February 8, 2026
Misogyny will never end until we not only listen to women, we HEAR them.
Here's an entire family decimated because misogyny.
A
Anita Darcel Taylor
September 18, 2024
Verified Purchase
Don't let the word "gothic" dissuade you.
Confession. I have had two copies of Sarai Walker's second novel, "Cherry Robbers" on my shelf for two years, untouched. I bought them because she's a dear friend who wrote a book that I wanted to support even though I didn't think I'd like it. The word Gothic. No. But I wanted to support. Buying books is a good way to support. (I actually bought four.) But reading books and speaking about them is a better way.
Today, at the urging of a review I listened to on TikTok, I pulled a copy off the shelf and read the first 10 pages. What was I thinking? These ten pages are some of the most elegantly written pages I've read in years. I pride myself on not being a slouch in the reading department, but boy was I wrong about "Cherry Robbers." When the reviewer described the beauty in the darkness, she had me. Gothic or no, this one is probably for me. And, drum roll... it most definitely is. It is also probably for you.
Head to your local indie and read the first 10 pages. Then report back whether you bought it. I bet you did. You would have to. It is that damned gorgeous.
J
Jean Katherine
May 20, 2022
Verified Purchase
Off kilter and totally odd
The Cherry Robbers is a book like none I have ever read before. Although it has quite a bit of blended history woven into it (which I admired and found interesting), it offers up the story of a doomed family of six sisters. Each of them has a talent. It might be to be a great caretaker or to be a great pianist or poet. The tale is written by one of the sisters. She is the only one who survives.
I found The Cherry Robbers interesting enough to finish reading, however there is no passion, no sense of humor and no vitality to be found in this book. Also (and this is creepy), men as portrayed in this novel get the short end of the stick. I don’t believe that all men are bad. For the purposes of the narrator, they are. So proceed with caution.
B
Blacklace 50
May 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
Hypnotic Tale of Life, Love and Art
We waited a long time for Sarai Walker to publish another book after Dietland. The Cherry Robbers does not disappoint. It's a powerful portrayal of young women growing up in the 1950s surrounded by history, art and beauty but not far removed from madness. All the senses are intrigued. Memory stretches and compresses. Walker draws women's lives with intensity and truth. Well worth a read.
