Summary
A simple three-bedroom cabin is tucked back in the pines near Salida, Colorado and sits right on the Arkansas River. This is where Sophie, Rose, Amanda, and Veronica spend their precious time whenever they need to escape from their busy life. It is their sanctuary. And occasionally, they would take their minds off life’s struggles through fly fishing, a rare sport for women that captured their interest. Because of its complexity, it brings a different kind of satisfaction to each one of them.
One day, as they enjoy each other’s company in fly fishing, a panicked scream pierces the air and the four women look upstream to see a girl tossing and turning due to the rapid current. As they save her from the aggressive waves of the water, they all realize that she’s completely naked. The girl’s name is Melody, a tattooed gothic photographer who uploads nude pictures of her through a website called Suicide Girls. Her interesting personality captures the curiosity of the four women, so they instantly welcome her to their group. From then on, the five of them support each other through thick and thin, as they incorporate their life experience to a sport that brought them together.
Review
The Reel Sisters by Michelle Cummings is a story that revolves around five different personalities who bonded through fly fishing. Fly fishing is a method which is completely different from spin fishing or the regular type. Through the eyes of Sophie, Rose, Amanda, and Veronica, the readers get to know each character by witnessing what their world is like and how amazing it can be despite some pitfalls. The first-person point of view made the novel more personal; it felt like I was reading a journal of five wonderful women.
There are four things that I like about this book: (1) The author put excerpts from fly fishing books before each chapter to share fly fishing techniques, (2) the very detailed description of fly fishing techniques brought me closer to nature, (3) the five main characters are very relatable, and (4) the book was flawlessly edited.
Overall, I’m giving this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. Fly fishing advocates and people who would like to get out of their comfort zone will appreciate the adventure, fun, drama, and heartwarming story of this novel. Because of the author’s ability to pull me into the world she has created, there is no room for a lower rating. Readers of any genre will find this book inspiring and very informative.