Josie and Harriet are identical twins born into a vaudeville family that lives hand to mouth until their parents craft an idea. The girls are put into a harness with a dress that makes them appear to be conjoined twins. During the early part of the 20th century, there apparently was a demand for these unique acts in burlesque and vaudeville. Their popularity flourished, and they toured the country. As they grew into adolescence, one of the girls became increasingly disenchanted with the farce, and revealed it in a very public venue, leaving their parents destitute and humiliated. When Josie immediately left the family to pursue a romantic interest and a need for solo fame, Harriet was devastated, and the family was forced to rely on the charity of a family member, Reverend Eugene Creggs. His daughter, Ruth, figures prominently in Harriet's life.

Throughout the novel, the poignant history of the girls' parents, Maude and Lenny is recounted. Their own dreams of success in the theater are ended abruptly when Maude is severely injured due to Lenny's carelessness as a set designer. When Josie leaves the family, they are left to find a way to make a living, and it comes at a great cost to Harriet.

This is a beautifully told story that is filled with the challenges of disappointing yourself or those you love. The plot is very engaging, and the characters are fully developed. Highly recommended. ( )

A totally fun read with an unexpected ending. Look foward to seeing more from this author. ( )

When the Szaszes family falls on hard times, twins Harriet and Josie, are made to pretend that they are conjoined twins and sing and dance in a vaudeville act. Known as the Sweet Sisters, the twins live a restricted and hidden life. Josie decides to expose the lie during a show and then runs off to Hollywood, leaving her sister and parents behind.

This was a quick, fun read. Life in a vaudeville act was fascinating to read about. I enjoyed watching the sisters grow and struggle against their parents and their hidden life. Overall, highly recommended. ( )

Loved this tale of twin sisters, who must succeed on stage to help support their parents. Their father's ingenious solution is to harness them together and pass them off as "Siamese Twins". But being yoked together and shielded from the world whenever they are out of public view is no life, and one twin refuses to accept it, upending the family's life. Beautifully written, these characters stayed with me for a long time. ( )

Harriet and Josie Szasz are twins, the daughters of a "show biz" couple - dad a set maker and mom a former dancer who was injured while on stage. The father comes up with a scheme to present the five year old girls as conjoined twins and put them on the vaudeville circuit. After several years of this, Josie exposes the fraud and disappears with a man who promises to take her to Hollywood, which he does and Josie becomes somewhat of a star, never keeping touch with her parents or sister.

The story is told from the viewpoint of Harriet, who after the father has had too many failures, leaves the mother and daughter together. Maude, the mother, also as a deep secret which her brother-in-law (who married her sister) knows. Uncle Eugene is a fairly successful evangelist and leader of an "institute" of Christianity where he takes in Maude and Harriet. Harriet attempts to become the "good girl," unlike her cousin, Ruby who flaunts every misadventure to her father.

This is a good story about family relationships, times that tried each member and yet they stuck together, dark secrets that were only hinted at. The first chapter begins with Harriet telling her story of her sister who has recently passed to a journalist. The characters are believable and the settings seem true to life. Overall, good story. ( )