The Something Borrowed Sisters

Harbor Cove #3

by Shirley Jump

In this heartwarming story, all three Monroe sisters have said “I do,” but when the eldest sister’s marriage hits a rough patch, it takes the love of her family to see her through—perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis and Jenny Hale!  

Ever since their mother passed, Margaret Monroe has been the rock for her two younger sisters, serving as a role model in life and in love. But Margaret is keeping a painful secret from her normally tight-knit family. Her sisters would be there for her if she reached out for help, but with her family concerned about their grandmother’s health crisis, Margaret doesn’t want to add to their worry. She’d like to be able to confide in her husband instead, but they have drifted apart, and she has no idea how they can find their way back to one another.

Thankfully, her two sisters are now in happy marriages, and Margaret wants to make her own relationship last a lifetime too. But will she lose everyone she holds dear once she tells them the truth?

Genres: Romance, Fiction

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2023

About the author

Shirley Jump is a writing instructor and an award-winning, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and USA Today bestselling author who has published more than 80 books in 24 countries. She has spoken all over the world about the power of narrative and how to create compelling books. A former reporter and communications director for a marketing agency, she uses her diverse background to help clients create impactful books that readers can’t down.

She knows the path to publication isn’t all rainbows and unicorns, so to help writers write their best possible book, she offers monthly Manuscript Masterminds through her website, www.WritingCompellingFiction.com.

On her channel, https://YouTube.com/@WritingCompellin..., she unlocks the secrets behind compelling novels and delves into the psychological aspect of overcoming creativity-stoppers like doubt and perfectionism. Follow her channel for more writing exercises, classes, and behind-the-scenes writing lessons or join her Manuscript Mastermind to build your tribe of like-minded writers and receive crucial feedback on your pages.

Reviews

[Madison Warner Fairbanks]

The Something Borrowed Sisters by Shirley Jump
Harbor Cove series #3. Contemporary romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but richer if you’ve read the prior two sisters romances. Closed door.
Margaret Monroe took on the responsibilities of adulthood at the age of nine when her mother passed away. She’s mothered her younger sisters through their childhoods and into marriage, keeping her worries and concerns to herself. She feels like she’s alone in her own marriage. Strangers that share a text about dinner but never really meet much less communicate. Margaret has a secret to share with her family and husband but she doesn’t know how. She is afraid that sharing the secret will impact everyone. But to keep it from them may be a betrayal.

This story is a strong argument for not bottling up or repressing your emotions or feelings. I cried copiously reading the last 20% of this book as Meg learned and dealt with everything she’d hidden or denied since she was nine. She’s not the only one. It can be a learned trait passed through the generations. I really think Mike should have done the same and not left Meg standing on the ledge by herself, though this is addressed in the wrap up.
Healing, honestly, openness, sharing and forgiveness.
Obviously it’s an emotional story which makes it both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. And as a reminder, it’s a romance as well as the conclusion of this family series of sisters. Joyful celebrations at the ending.
Beautiful.
Includes a Reading Guide which I love for all my bookclub people.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

[Carrie]

Review coming soon.

[Kaye]

Heartwarming women’s fiction. This is the third book in the Harbor Cove series but I read it easily as a stand alone. The story begins with the wedding of one of the Gabby whose romance was in The Marvelous Monroe Girls (Jan 2022). Oldest sister Margaret reflects back on her ten year old marriage and realizes they have grown apart. The last thing husband Mike is expecting when coming home from work is for Meg to be waiting with divorce papers.

I like that he doesn’t just accept but suggests meeting with a counselor. There are a lot of things happening in this story. The gist is that Margaret has always felt responsible for her two sisters even though she was only nine when her mother died in a car accident. She has learned to keep things inside. This book is learning to lean on her sisters and open herself to Mike who has his own family issues. Things get a little sappy with Grandma meddling and trying to put the two together, but of course done with love.

I read this surprisingly fast in just a few hours. It is closed door for the one intimate scene and the Thanksgiving dinner was moving. I enjoyed reading this but not enough to immediately seek out the first two in the series. If I came across them at my library I would probably read them. Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)

[Linda Smatzny]

This is the story of the oldest sister who feels she must take care of everyone. She does it by building walls so she doesn't show emotions. This leads her to file for divorce from her husband whom she loves. The book was an easy read.

[Jodie (That Happy Reader)]

“The Something Borrowed Sisters” the third installment in the author’s Harbor Cove series, intricately weaves a tale of familial bonds, love, and life’s challenges. In the aftermath of their mother’s tragic passing, Margaret Monroe becomes the stalwart pillar for her younger sisters, hinting at a concealed burden that adds mystery to their family dynamics.

In this standalone novel, Margaret’s character takes centre stage as she grapples with a painful secret amidst a grandmother’s health crisis. The narrative explores the complexities of her strained marriage, shattered by a past pregnancy loss, and her quest to rediscover love and connection.

The key messages of the book are the importance of communication, family support, and the recognition of the need for counseling. A charming secondary plot involving the Monroe sisters’ grandmother and the neighbor, Harry, adds depth to the narrative, seamlessly connecting with the series.

The slow-paced yet engaging storytelling allows readers to witness Margaret’s transformative journey. The emphasis on her growth into a healthier woman reinforces the positive impact of the challenges she faces.

Overall, “The Something Borrowed Sisters” is a charming addition to the Harbor Cove series, offering a heartfelt exploration of family dynamics and personal redemption. It is recommended for readers who appreciate stories centered around the complexities of family relationships.

[Sarah Martinez]

I’ll start by saying I haven’t read the two previous books in this trilogy. The book can definitely be a stand-alone read, but I can’t help but wonder if I would’ve gotten a bit more insight on Margaret if I’d read the other books.
Nevertheless, this was a good, quick read overall. I did find myself continually frustrated with both Margaret and Mike’s lack of communication and tendencies to bottle up every emotion they have, though. I realize there are people who truly do think and act this way, but it made it hard for me to really like and root for the main characters. Would recommend, but probably won’t reread.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱, 𝘐𝘯𝘤. 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

[Me]

The main character is just to sad to angry for me to enjoy this book. She wants a divorce because she feels marriage isn't real anymore. DNF


***I received an ARC, for my honest opinion from NetGalley.***

[Laura A]

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this. Margaret feels like she is going through the motions some days. She is happy for her sister whobis getting married. I liked the characters in this book.

[Eileen]

The Something Borrowed Sister by Shirley Jump, book three in her Harbor Cover series, is about family, friendship, and love in Harbor Cove. This book is about Margaret (Meg) Monroe, the oldest of three close sisters, and her husband Mike.

Meg has been keeping secrets from her sisters Emma and Gabby. They think her marriage is happy but it's not. After ten years of marriage, Meg and Mike have drifted apart; feeling more like roommates than lovers, all stemming from a lack of communication. Despite loving each other, neither is willing to take the steps to move toward each other rather than away. When they try to move toward each other, all the baggage and hurt makes it impossible to stay together. Meg has decided that divorce might be for the best; especially with her keeping a big secret from everyone. Sometimes, it is best to take some time to think about yourself, deal with the things that you have been neglecting, heal yourself from the inside out. Their story will take you along on their journey: to heal themselves so that they might have the life they once dreamed of, together.

Ms. Jump wrote a sweet and endearing love story that should not be missed. She provided a tale rich with emotions, attraction, chemistry, clever banter, good intentions, and a cast of secondary characters assisting Meg and Mike to find their way back together. I highly recommend The Something Borrowed Sister to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Paula]

The Something Borrowed Sisters by Shirley Jump is a story of surviving the “winter of discontent” that all marriages go through at one time or another. Margaret has been the strong, stolid older sister since her mother dies when she was nine. The book begins with one marriage beginning and seemingly one marriage ending. This family of women, three sisters and a grandmother are always there for each other if only Margaret would allow them to be there for her. She certainly could have used some caring sounding boards.

Of Margaret and Mike, Mike was my preferred character. He was caring, strong and committed to the relationship. I wasn’t sure what was going on with Margaret. Everything in his life was going the way he had planned when they met but he never complained, which Margaret does a lot.

I had not read the previous books in the Harbor Cove Series but that in no way hinder my enjoyment of The Something Borrowed Sisters. Read to find out if these two can survive the hard times as well as how a couple of subplots go.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Chelsea]

Ever since their mom passed away, Margaret Monroe has always been the rock for her sisters. Now that they are both married and starting families of their own, she feels she has to now address her own issues within her marriage. Instead of using her close knit family as her rock, she continues to hide secrets from them and believe she can just do everything on her own. When her grandmother has a health emergency, Margaret steps in to help more. However, while she is healing, Grandma Eleanor might have other motives while she is healing to help her granddaughter see she does have people she can also rely on and tries to help her see what could be right in front of her this whole time.

I’ve now read all of the books in the Harbor Cove series and unfortunately this one just was not my favorite. I still enjoyed it and was a very solid 3.5 cat rounded up, but I struggled with Margaret’s character in this book. For me, the way she acted just took away from the overall plot. I know it helped build the story, but just struggled to like her. Since we’re now had a book on all 3 sisters, I am wondering if this series is over, or if maybe Grandma Eleanor will get her own story next.

Thank you Net Galley Forever Publishing and Shirley Jump for the advanced copy for my honest review. This book is out now, so no time to wait in getting yourself a copy.

On the Cat Scale:
😺😺😺😺

[Tintin]

Amazing novel! Such a light-read. Loved the family-related storyline. I liked how Mike had still not given up and still had that small hope that things would get better. I loved the character development of Margaret, choosing to go to therapy, and realizing that she had been setting walls/boundaries between her and her loved one.

From this novel, I came to know about the perspective of elder siblings who have so much responsibility to look after their younger siblings that they shield all the problems/issues to protect their siblings. And in that process, they can forget how to express themselves and their emotions. Really loved and enjoyed how this aspect was highlighted in the novel over and over again and Margaret finally resolves this over time and fixes her marriage.

Although while reading through the book and seeing the emotions of Mike and Margaret, it was predictable that they will end up together. So, it would have been more fun if there was some twist at the end. But still a good, fun read.

[Terri]

This is the third book in the series, about the third sister. Margaret and Mike used to have a fantastic marriage, but circumstances put a pall over their lives and their marriage has suffered. Divorce in the horizon unless Mike can get Margaret to change her mind.

This women's fiction is complicated as far as emotions go. There are ups and downs and circling going on with their relationship and I really wanted them to get their stuff together. Margaret was super confused about everything and listened to her head instead of her heart. Mike was heart all the way and I loved that! I was glad to see that counseling was in the works for them.

Jump does a great job with women's fiction and develops her characters really well. I definitely recommend this book!

Thanks to Forever Pub and NetGalley for the gifted book. All thoughts are my own.

[Jill]

Until I read the ending, did I realize that this was the third book in a trilogy. Although I think you could read it as a stand alone book. This is a heart warming story of three sisters, raised by their grandmother after the death of their mother when they were young. The home is full of love and cheer and optimism, except for the eldest daughter, Meg. It is hard for her to be joyous like her newly wed younger sister Gabby or her wedded sister Emma when she finds herself in a boring staid marriage. Only once was she reckless and adventurous, and that's when she ran away to marry Mike. Now 10 years later, Meg is the owner of a jewelry store and she and Mike are like roommates rather than a couple. Mike too has had to deal with loss, taking on responsibility for his mother when his father died, leaving her in debt. He has always wanted to be a writer but gave up that dream to come a CPA like his father dreamed and settled down with a douse in the suburbs. Both Mike and Meg are lost and headed for divorce, but really neither wants that to happen. Grandma tried to meddle, believing in hope and love, but there are many twists and turns. I like the dynamics of the family and especially Grandma who never gives up on Meg and helps to ground her. Meg is so sad and as the reader, you try to root for her to find happiness, because no matter what she is just lost. But then something unexpected happens and maybe there is hope for Meg and Mike. Many thanks to #netgalley #shirleyjump #thesomethingborrowedsisters for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Nana]

Margaret and Mike have drifted apart. They love each other, but don't want to take the steps to move toward each other rather than away from each other. They try to move toward each other, but there is so much between them, that is making it impossible.
Sometimes, the answer is to take some time to think about yourself, deal with the things that you have been neglecting, heal yourself from the inside out. The story will take you with them on their journey, to heal themselves so that they might have the life they once dreamed of.
I wondered about the title, but after reading the book, it was a nice title.
I received an ARC from Forever through NetGalley.

[Jodi]

I haven’t read the two previous books in this trilogy. This book can definitely be a stand-alone read, although as often the case the previous books would provide more insight and back story. This is a story of three sisters, Meg, Emma and Gabby . It begins with the wedding of Gabby and the unhappiness of Meg's marriage. The 3 sisters lived with their grandmother after their mother is killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver and are incredibly close. This book really focuses on Meg and her declining marriage which is more like roommates rather than the adventurous couple they started as when younger. She really finds herself in this novel and reflects the opportunity of second chances. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity.

[Dyan]

I gave this book 4 ½ stars.

This is my first book by Shirley Jump. It is the third in “Harbor Cove” series, but I haven’t read the other two yet and it didn’t mess up the story at all.

This book is another Romantic Chic Lit book and I really liked it. I will be looking for more books by this author in the future.

The story flowed really well and I love every character in the book. If you also like these kinds of books, I think you will enjoy this one too.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the advanced reader’s copy of this book for my honest opinion.

[Kathleen Gray]

Know that while this is the third in a series- each installment featuring a different sister- it will be just fine as a standalone. Meg's keeping secrets from her sisters Emma and Gabby. For one thing, they think her marriage is happy but it's not. Meg and Mike have drifted. More importantly, no spoilers for the other secret. This is all about communication and how just sharing can change and improve everything, Jump's a good storyteller and she wraps you in to the ups and downs of the lives of these women. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

[Barbara Tobey]

Pleasant reading. Some heart-warming and heart-breaking moments. Communication is a good thing. The characters needed to do more of it to resolve their issues. Realistic but frustrating for those of us looking in on the situation. I did read the first one in the series, but did not recall it. Not required to enjoy this book anyway. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

[Jill]

Margaret and Mike have been married for ten years and barely spend any time together anymore. They both learned young to bury their feelings and be the responsible ones in their families. Amid the scheming of her grandmother, they are reminded about the importance of family and good friends and learning how to share your burdens. This is the third book in a trilogy and it was easy to read without having read the prior two books.

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton]

This is wonderfully written women's fiction with a heartwarming message to communicate and lean on others, especially family, .I loved the characters, they were so real and believable. The emotions in this book will pull at your heart strings. There's just enough conflict and sweet to keep the pages turning and make this a very enjoyable and entertaining story.

[Sheila Penwell]

Loved this story of the sisters, Meg, Emma and Gabby . It begins with the wedding of Gabby and the unhappiness of Meg's marriage. The 3 sisters lived with their grandmother after their mother is killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. This is one of this author's best books. This is A VERY GOOD READ. I don't do spoilers so this is what I write instead. Does Meg and Mike get a divorce. Is Meg in touch with the drunk driver? Does Mike know the drunk driver because of his own father. These are some things you will find out.

[Jessica - How Jessica Reads]

Charming but disposable. I liked it, and reviewed it, but probably would not read more by the author.

[Haney Hayes]

This book is a good fit for readers seeking a heartfelt story about the unbreakable bond of sisterhood, the challenges of marriage, and the healing power of honesty and forgiveness.

[Dachund_mom_reads]

I went blind into this book. I only picked it because it said “fans of Jill Shalvis” while I don’t agree that it’s like a Shalvis book, I did really enjoy it.
After reading I realized it was the third book in the trilogy. It is Margaret and Mike’s book.
They have been married for 10 years and more like roommates.
With talk of divorce, can they save their marriage? Especially since Margaret has a big secret.

T/W miscarriage

[Ann]

This is book 3 in the Harbor Cove series and sorry to say the last.
Margaret and her sisters are all happily married but have concerns about their grandmother’s health. Margaret is hesitant to confide that her marriage is on shaky ground. The sister’s eventually all get on the same page and true love does survive. A nice ending to the series.

[Eris]

This is a good book. The two main characters are Margaret and Mike. They are married but Margaret is ready to file for divorce. There is still an attraction. They decided to go to counseling, they feel so good about it they celebrate. The next morning the walls are back up. A couple of months later Margaret finds out she is pregnant. They both have trust issues but work them out together. They realize they love each other.