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An Intimate Look at an Unconventional Marriage
THE FOURSOME
By Christina Baker Kline
Christina Baker Kline’s The Foursome draws on the real-life story of the famous conjoined twins Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker, who first rose to fame touring before eventually settling in North Carolina. It was there that they met and married the Yates sisters, Adelaide and Sallie, going on to build an unconventional life together and raise a combined 21 children.
Told from Sallie’s point of view—the more hesitant sister, shaped by limited choices after a teenage scandal—the novel spans five decades and offers an intimate look at this unusual marriage and the bond between the sisters. It explores what it meant to step into a life that would always draw attention, and how four strong personalities navigated marriage, privacy, and family within such a complicated arrangement.
This is a quiet, character-focused story that finds tension in the everyday. The characters feel nuanced, carrying the weight of their choices in a way that makes an unusual situation feel real and intimate. Sallie often seems alone in her decisions, particularly when it comes to running the household and the plantation. She comes across as more empathetic than the others, who often appear aligned. I also felt that Eng frequently deferred to Chang, rather than standing firm in his own decisions.
I’ve enjoyed other books by Christina Baker Kline, and this one continues to show her strength in exploring complex relationships. Even more interesting—the sisters are distant cousins of the author. If you’re drawn to stories about sisterhood and complicated family dynamics—woven with themes of love, marriage, intimacy, identity, race, and gender inequality—The Foursome is worth reading.
Definitely a great pick for book clubs—it has plenty of layers to spark thoughtful discussion.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the eARC.
