Peggy and Molly Gainsborough are sisters and best friends, living an idyllic life in 18th-century Ipswich where they explore the countryside with their artist father. But Molly isn't well—she has episodes of confusion and dissociation, forgetting where she is or what she's doing. Even worse, at times she speaks or behaves irrationally. Peggy is desperate to help her sister, doing her best to hide or explain away these moments. This is difficult enough, but when their parents move the family to Bath for the sake of their father's career, it becomes even harder. The Painter's Daughters follows Peggy's journey to adulthood as she struggles with her fear for and anger at her sister, as well as finding her place in the world.

The characters and their relationships are the highlight of the novel. Howes expertly crafts characters that are both deeply flawed and easy to empathize with....