Sister Envy with Jennifer J. Chow + a giveaway

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I’m so excited to welcome Jennifer back to the blog. I read her first book Mimi Lee Gets a Clue right as the pandemic broke down and I was stuck at home. It was the perfect book for me. And I was lucky enough to get to read an advance copy of Mimi Reads Between the Lines. Here’s my thought on Mimi Reads Between the Lines: If you love an intriguing mystery with an appealing protagonist, a wisecracking cat, and lively family dynamics you must read the Sassy Cat mysteries by Jennifer J. Chow. I’m so glad I found her fresh new voice in the cozy mystery world. 

Jennifer: When I was young, I wished I had a sister. I wanted somebody to whisper secrets with; I believed that having a sister meant a lifelong friend who would understand me. Of course, I really had no say in the matter. I was also into the Sweet Valley High series at the time. Reading about Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield made me yearn for a sister (and a twin, which for sure was not going to happen).

I did get a taste of sisterhood when my cousins moved to the States. Their family had a trio of girls. The youngest happened to be my age, so we went off to kindergarten together. We even wore matching shirts on the first day of school. Peers would often confuse us and figured that we were twins. For the entire school year, I felt like a fake. My cousin actually had two real sisters at home, ones with whom she shared a room and cozied up to in bed while swapping stories. They eventually also traded clothes, too, and continued to look out for one another as they grew older. At my youngest cousin’s wedding, the joke to the groom was that he hadn’t just married the one woman but had gotten the whole sisterhood.

I now have two daughters, and I enjoy observing the intricacies of their relationship. Oftentimes, it can be a love-hate rollercoaster ride—all within the span of a day. They can gripe at each other one moment and then turn around and snuggle together the next. They play imaginative games, and only sometimes will make mischief together instead. More often than not, I find them chatting, while doing something as simple and caring as braiding each other’s hair.

Their close relationship influenced how I wrote the sister bond between Mimi and Alice in A Sassy Cat Mystery series. The sister connection shines particularly bright in Mimi Lee Reads Between the Lines, when Alice gets accused of murder. Mimi must work hard to change the opinions of the police and find the real culprit.

Although I never got the sister I wanted growing up, I’m glad that I can pour my creative energy into writing sisters in my novels.

Readers: Do you have any siblings or did you experience siblings envy growing up?

Giveaway: A physical or email copy (reader’s choice) of A Sassy Cat Mystery book (MIMI LEE GETS A CLUE or MIMI LEE READS BETWEEN THE LINES) through random selection from a comment on the blog. US only for physical copy. Ends one week after the post (November 20th).  

Bio:

Jennifer J. Chow is the author of the hiss-terical A Sassy Cat Mystery series and the Winston Wong cozies. She lives in Los Angeles, where she hunts for all things matcha. Connect with her online and sign up for her newsletter at www.jenniferjchow.com. You can also find her on social media under @jenjchow.

Blurb and buy link:

When a local teacher is found dead, LA’s newest pet groomer Mimi Lee finds herself in a pawful predicament—with her younger sister’s livelihood on the line.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/605897/mimi-lee-reads-between-the-lines-by-jennifer-j-chow/9781984805010/

Published by Sherry Harris

Sherry Harris is the author of the Agatha Award nominated Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series and the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Mystery series.

63 Thoughts

  1. I am looking forward to reading your books Jennifer. I love the vibrant covers. I too used to yearn for a sister and now have an only daughter amongst sons and who cheekily calls me her ‘sister’.

  2. I think this sounds like the perfect book for me! I have two sisters who I’d be lost without and two cats: Maurice, the sassy one year old whose nickname is Captain Pettipants, and Andy, aka Sir Andy Cat, who takes it all in stride.

  3. Welcome to the blog, Jennifer! I clearly need to catch up on your books. I grew up in the Pasadena area with two older sisters and a bratty little brother. As an adult, I’m especially grateful for my sisters. And lucky you for having daughters – I raised two sons.

      1. I adore my adult boys – and am grateful to be close to several girls, too, as they grew/are growing up.

  5. I was the oldest of 4 – two brothers and a sister (4, 6, and 8 years apart, respectively). Because of the gap between my sister and I, we weren’t especially close growing up. I was a teenager and she was the little kid tagging along after me when all I wanted was to be “cool” (hint, I wasn’t). But now we’re older and she’s a mother, we’re a lot closer.

  6. I always wanted a sister. I was the youngest of two children. I grew up in a neighborhood of all boys. My brother is nine years older than I, which made me a functional only child. Instead, To compensate, I immersed myself in books featuring strong women and made them my fantasy sisters. Not the same thing, but the best substitute I could find.

    Best of luck with Mimi Lee Reads Between the Lines. I’m looking forward to catching up with your series.

  7. In my family, there was my older brother and myself. He was almost 5 years older than me. When I was young, I thought the world of him and I think he tolerated me. 🙂 My brother didn’t inherit the family gene though. Later in life he would pull disappearing acts that lasted for years. I just couldn’t get over how he treated our parents and the riff never was put to bed completely. He passed away a few years back and I often wonder “what if”. I’m jealous when I see other happy siblings and often wonder if the age difference was what cause it or just that my brother walked to beat of a different drummer.

    Would love the opportunity to read one of the A Sassy Cat Mystery series books! Thank you for the chance! Shared and hoping to be the very fortunate one selected.

  8. In my family, there was my brother an myself. He was almost 5 years older than me. As a small child, I thought the sun rose and set because of him. I think he tolerated me. My brother always seemed to hear the beat of a different drummer and didn’t inherit the family gene that I did. He would have long spells of disappearing and then show up like he didn’t understand why things were different. It was very hard to forgive him for how he treated my parents. You always hope to make amends and I was always jealous when I’d see other groups of siblings getting along so well. He passed away a few years ago. I found out through someone who told someone long afterwards. It makes me sad, but I hold on to my happy thoughts of when I was small. Just goes to prove I guess that having a sibling doesn’t actually mean you will have what you always wanted.

    Would love the opportunity to read one of the A Sassy Cat Mystery series books. Thank you for the chance! Shared and hoping to be the very fortunate one selected.

  10. I have added Mimi’s books to my TBR! I never had a sister but I am raising 3 girls- all teenagers right now- and I love to see the bonds grow between them as they get older. People have told me they will be best friends when they are adults, and I can see that starting to form. The pandemic has brought them closer, too, as for months there was no one else to hang out with.

    1. Yay, Shanna! Thanks for adding my books to your TBR pile.

      I’ve heard the same thing about sisters being best friends as adults. I know two sisters who became roommates because of the pandemic, and it’s been great for their relationship.

  11. I’m new to Wicked Authors and love Jennifer’s post. I am the only girl: grew up with five younger brothers and gave birth to four sons. And I have always liked my special status as the only girl. Though I tend to prefer hanging with “the guys” rather than “the girls,” I have found deep and lasting connections with the few woman with whom I am actually close.

    1. Welcome to the Wickeds! It’s such a great blog.

      I hadn’t thought about being the only girl as a special status. What a great perspective! So happy that you can hang with the guys and have close female friendships.

  12. Welcome to the Wickeds, Jennifer! I do not have a sister, but as someone pointed out to me, the main character in all three of my novel series has one. Clearly I have some kind of sister-envy going on. Paging Dr. Freud!

  15. Congratulations on your new release Jennifer! Your book sounds intriguing and like a great t read, I love the book cover. I was Blessed by having 3 older brothers and 2 younger sisters, I loved belonging to a large family. I am a year and a week older than my next sister and 7 yrs older than my youngest sister.Now as we are all grown up we are all still pretty close to each other. Both are parents have passed , so all we have left is us siblings and of course our families. Have a Great weekend and stay safe. Very nice to meet you.

  16. I have a brother, seven years younger than I am. We were close at times, and not at others growing up, but we are fairly close now as adults.

    (No need to enter me in the giveaway.)

  17. I’ve often wondered what it would have been like having a sister. I’m the only girl and middle child with two brothers. Because of our differences regarding things happening right now, we’re not very close. We do keep in touch and get together a few times a year although we haven’t been able to this year. As long as we don’t discuss politics and religion, we get along when we see each other in person.

  19. I’m an only child and my daughter is, too, so I don’t have any real experience with sisters. I do have a couple of only child friends who are like sisters to me, but unfortunately, live in other parts of the country. On occasion, I wished for a sister when I was growing up, but I really liked the status of being an only. And I wasn’t spoiled nor was I selfish. Even tho’ my husband has two sisters who are both very nice people, I’m glad I don’t have to deal with the family dynamics.

    Your new series is fascinating and I look forward to adding your books to my TBR pile.

  20. Do sister friends count? I have some really close friends who are like sisters, but was an only child. How wonderful that you have two daughters now, what blessings! Did you ever see the old movie White Christmas? There are two sisters in it who sing the song, “Sisters.” The sisters are played by Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen.

  21. I have one younger sister. We got along great at times, other times we fought like crazy. Never much in between.

  22. Huge congratulations on the new release, Jen! I’m thrilled for you! 🙂
    In my family, I’m the youngest of eight, with five older sisters and two older brothers. We grew up in a 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath house. No shortage of siblings in my life!

  23. Thanks for visiting with teh Wickeds today, Jennifer! I have two sisters and am so grateful to have them in my life so I can totally understand how sister envy could occur! How lovely that you are experiencing it in another form by parenting your daughters!

  24. I would love to read your series. They do sound like fun. I had 2 siblings growing up. I was the oldest then my bratty brother (3years younger) and my baby sister 8 years younger. Growing up she idolized me & wanted to do everything I did. I was the annoyed big sister. Melanie and I were best friends once we both reached adulthood. We had a love of sports, reading,although she read thrillers. We love animals & children. I became a librarian. She helped me cope with a divorce & life as a single mom. And me through serious illnesses & surgeries. She often was that voice of maturity but so fun loving. She lost her battle with cancer in 2016. I miss her greatly.
    I do look forward to reading about the sisters in your books.

  25. Late commenter here! I always wanted a sister too, Jen. Instead I have two younger brothers, one of whom I’m super close to. I love the sister relationship you created in your series. Congratulations on the release!

  26. I can’t wait to read this book, it sounds like a great read. I have one sister, no brothers. My sister is seven years younger than I am and I can remember being so excited when she was born. We live in different states, but we are really close. I talk to her almost every day and we see each as often as possible.

  27. Congrats on the new book and both of your books are on my TBR list. I’m the oldest of 6 kids and because I am the oldest (4 yrs older than brother, 5 yrs older than sis C, 7 yrs older than sis T, 12 yrs older than sis J, 14 yrs older than sis A) I was not really close to my sibs growing up except for my sis A as she was the baby and I took care of her most of the time, but as far as giggles, whispers of secrets and such, my 2 middle sisters were that way (and still are) with each other. My 2 youngest sisters were in competition with each other, never close and still aren’t. But it is what it is 🙂

    1. I do think it’s tough when you’re the eldest. My hubby’s brother has the same dynamic in his family; being the oldest meant that he was more of a caregiver than a sibling friend while they were growing up.

  28. I am an only child. I have had envy for other’s with siblings. I have always wanted to have a sister or brother.

  29. I had 3 sisters and no brothers, but one of my sisters passed away in 2011, at the age of 54, from ovarian cancer. She has a twin, so that’s been especially hard fir her twin. They were the oldest, then a 5 yr age gap, then I was born, then 14 mo later my younger sister was born. legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

  30. I have a younger brother who I am not close with. I wish he had been my older brother because my favorite trope is older brother’s friend!

  31. I am the oldest of 5. I have 3 brothers and a sister. My brothers still live in our home town and my sister is in VA and I’m in FL. My sister and I growing up didn’t get along at all. I don’t know if it was the 3 year age difference. We used to share a room and one day we came home from school and my mother had moved my sister into the room that used to be the playroom. She said she was tired of listening to us bickering all of the time. My 3 brothers shared a room until they were old enough to go away to college. Thank you so much for this chance!!! pgenest57(at)aol(dot)com

  32. No sisters but it would have been such fun! When my boys were young – example 2, 6 and 9 – I would often talk about what I had done with the 2 oldest or the 2 youngest. Many thought I had 4 boys!!

  33. I am lucky to have a sister. We live on opposite sides of the country now, but we’re still there for each other when needed. Congrats on the new book!

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