Big & Lily
Buy the Book:Amazon
Barnes & Noble
BookShop.org
Apple
Published by: Harper Perennial
Release Date: August 11, 2026
Pages: 304
ISBN13: 978-0063474918
Synopsis
A sharply funny, deeply heartfelt novel about two sisters who discover the best way to find themselves is by getting lost.
For her entire life, Bridget “Big” Ackerman Petty has struggled to hold everything together—her kids, her husband, her demanding mother, all in dizzying orbit around her. While the kids are grown and her husband is retired, every day still feels like a to-do list she can never quite finish. Why is everything so effortless and easy for her sister Lily—a woman blessed with a magnetic personality, a thriving business, and a husband who adores her.
But when Lily discovers her husband’s been cheating, her “perfect” life implodes. Devastated and overwhelmed, she decides to run as far away as possible: to Alaska to lose herself on a hardcore survival trek—and she’s dragged her reluctant sister Big along.
No cell service, no easy exits—just grizzlies, outdoor plumbing, and a group of strangers who know how to read a compass. As the sisters navigate freezing rivers, unmarked trails, and more than one near-death experience, the defenses they’ve used to protect themselves begin to crumble, and they’re forced to face everything they’ve spent decades avoiding: resentment, regret, envy, and the terrifying possibility that the other one’s life might not be as easy as it looks.
Big & Lily is a laugh-out-loud, emotionally rich novel about second acts, sisterhood, and the unexpected ways we find ourselves when we’re truly lost.
Add on GoodreadsPraise
"Lisa Roe has done the nearly impossible! In Big and Lily, she's created a story that is funny, heartfelt, suspenseful, absolutely endearing, and with a cast of unforgettable characters. Honestly, I stayed up waaaay past my bedtime getting these two hilarious sisters through their Alaska wilderness adventure. Five big stars!"
—Maddie Dawson, Washington Post bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners
"A hilarious, heart-tugging adventure about sisterhood, survival, and the questionable life choices that land you in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness with a grudge and a roll of biodegradable toilet paper. Lisa Roe delivers a story as sharp as a hiking stick and as warm as the campfire you’ll be clinging to for dear life."
–Ann Garvin, best-selling author of Bummer Camp
“Lisa Roe does it again with her signature humor on every page. Big and Lily is a hilarious thrill ride that had me doubling over in stitches. In Lily’s rash attempt to escape her messy life and drag her sister, Big, with her, she signs them up for an Alaskan wilderness adventure that is way out of their depth. What follows is a drama filled journey rife with complex sibling dynamics, hair-raising experiences, and jaw-dropping moments. Both sisters believe “the grass is greener” for the other and must face truths they’ve kept hidden, confide in each other, and set aside their differences to survive the unknown together. Wildly entertaining, heartfelt, and powerful—this story grabs hold of you and hangs with you well after the last page.”
—Annie Cathryn, multi-award-winning author of The Friendship Breakup
“As an only child with a soft spot for sister stories, I was bowled over by BIG AND LILY from page one. Lisa Roe shows us the intimate side of sibling love and rivalry— the good, the bad, the infuriating, and the hilarious. I especially loved how the dynamic between measured, responsible Bridget and charming, impulsive Lily played out on the high stakes journey across the Alaskan Wilderness. Relatable and poignantly insightful, BIG AND LILY explores themes of motherhood, infertility, marriage, infidelity, second chances, found family, and the healing power of nature.”
–Lisa Williamson Rosenberg, author of Embers on the Wind and Mirror Me
"A heartwarming, fast-paced story, Big & Lily follows two sisters whose thrilling - and at times perilous - adventure in the wilds of Alaska teaches them everything they need to know about what really matters in life. Readers will fall in love with Roe’s delightful mix of characters who face challenges, uncertainty, and the unknown, and who forge relationships they will carry home with them like precious souvenirs."
–Amy Poeppel, best-selling author of Far And Away and The Sweet Spot
