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Otherwise Engaged: A Novel
A twisty, tender and wise look at how secrets can transform the powerful—and sometimes problematic—bond between mothers and daughters, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery.
When Shannon gets engaged, her beloved mom, Cindy, is the first person she wants to tell—and the last. Cindy’s engaged, too, and has already hinted at a double wedding. The image of a synchronized bouquet toss with her mom fills Shannon with horror. She’ll keep her engagement a secret until Cindy’s I-dos are done.
Victoria has never been proper enough for her mother, Ava, so she stopped trying. She lives on her own terms and amuses herself by pushing Ava’s buttons. Ava loves but doesn’t understand her stuntwoman daughter. When a movie-set mishap brings Victoria home, Ava longs to finally connect.
Chance brings the four women together at a wedding venue, where a shocking secret comes tumbling out. Twenty-four years ago, desperate teenager Cindy chose wealthy Ava to adopt her baby—then changed her mind at the very last second. The loss rocked Ava’s world, leaving her unable to open her heart to the daughter she did adopt, Victoria. As Shannon and Victoria deal with the fallout from the decisions their mothers made, they wrestle with whether who they are is different than who they might have become.
When Shannon gets engaged, her beloved mom, Cindy, is the first person she wants to tell—and the last. Cindy’s engaged, too, and has already hinted at a double wedding. The image of a synchronized bouquet toss with her mom fills Shannon with horror. She’ll keep her engagement a secret until Cindy’s I-dos are done.
Victoria has never been proper enough for her mother, Ava, so she stopped trying. She lives on her own terms and amuses herself by pushing Ava’s buttons. Ava loves but doesn’t understand her stuntwoman daughter. When a movie-set mishap brings Victoria home, Ava longs to finally connect.
Chance brings the four women together at a wedding venue, where a shocking secret comes tumbling out. Twenty-four years ago, desperate teenager Cindy chose wealthy Ava to adopt her baby—then changed her mind at the very last second. The loss rocked Ava’s world, leaving her unable to open her heart to the daughter she did adopt, Victoria. As Shannon and Victoria deal with the fallout from the decisions their mothers made, they wrestle with whether who they are is different than who they might have become.
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Published December 1, 2025
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About the author
Susan Mallery
862 books15.4k followers#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 438 reviews
June 13, 2025
Otherwise Engaged by Susan Mallery. Wow, I was totally shocked at the ending. I was reading the questions at the end of the book thinking, surely that was not it. It was so abrupt in my opinion. I enjoyed the book overall. Thank you to #NetGalley and #Harlequin Trade Publishing for this Arc. Releases Nov 4. 2025
November 18, 2025
Is it possible that Mallery wrote this book just to let the world know how strongly she feels about the charcuterie boards? I feel like that chance is not zero. Charcuterie boards played a very large role in this novel.
I feel a little bad bashing this book because I think I may not be the intended audience. I could see another reader, maybe someone a bit older, enjoying all the descriptions of food (every meal!) and all the moral lessons. It was not for me.
The characters seemed a bit cartoonish to me, especially the younger women. Who has their life figured out at 24? And who just straight up tells people, “I’m in it for the orgasm?” (An explanation from a “tough” young woman who got hurt by a man once and now trusts no one, insisting she “does not do relationships.”)
Other wtf moments:
- the rich couple repeatedly says it would have been “better” if the baby they wanted to adopt had died instead of its mother changing her mind and deciding to keep it, because the baby was lost to them but not TRULY lost, still living their life a few miles away. I kid you not, pardon the pun.
- speaking of repetitions - Mallery wants to make sure we keep track of the plot, so every single thing and conversation keeps repeating over and over, until it is all chewed up, like a mama bird feeding her young with the regurgitated worm.
- nepotism is on full display and gets zero negative connotation. Victoria gets a job in Hollywood thanks to her father. Her family buys her a condo. Shannon steals a spot at a prestigious cinematography class from a deserving student. Not her fault, really, but Ava should have known better
- so many unfinished storylines! What happened to the kitchen project? Are Cindy and Ava related? (The novel talks about the rifle on the wall rule yet constantly tells us the two women looked like sisters and it never went anywhere.) Will the screenplay work out? How will the wedding/weddings go? The whole setup of the both families trying to book the same venue and Ava specifically wanting to get the entire property- I thought for sure there was going to be some sort of “we booked this place first” drama.
- body shaming aspect - Victoria keeps saying how much weight she has gained and what she needs to do to get back in shape (the woman has a broken leg and two black eyes). Do we need that sort of energy?
Thank you, NetGalley, for sharing an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.
I feel a little bad bashing this book because I think I may not be the intended audience. I could see another reader, maybe someone a bit older, enjoying all the descriptions of food (every meal!) and all the moral lessons. It was not for me.
The characters seemed a bit cartoonish to me, especially the younger women. Who has their life figured out at 24? And who just straight up tells people, “I’m in it for the orgasm?” (An explanation from a “tough” young woman who got hurt by a man once and now trusts no one, insisting she “does not do relationships.”)
Other wtf moments:
- the rich couple repeatedly says it would have been “better” if the baby they wanted to adopt had died instead of its mother changing her mind and deciding to keep it, because the baby was lost to them but not TRULY lost, still living their life a few miles away. I kid you not, pardon the pun.
- speaking of repetitions - Mallery wants to make sure we keep track of the plot, so every single thing and conversation keeps repeating over and over, until it is all chewed up, like a mama bird feeding her young with the regurgitated worm.
- nepotism is on full display and gets zero negative connotation. Victoria gets a job in Hollywood thanks to her father. Her family buys her a condo. Shannon steals a spot at a prestigious cinematography class from a deserving student. Not her fault, really, but Ava should have known better
- so many unfinished storylines! What happened to the kitchen project? Are Cindy and Ava related? (The novel talks about the rifle on the wall rule yet constantly tells us the two women looked like sisters and it never went anywhere.) Will the screenplay work out? How will the wedding/weddings go? The whole setup of the both families trying to book the same venue and Ava specifically wanting to get the entire property- I thought for sure there was going to be some sort of “we booked this place first” drama.
- body shaming aspect - Victoria keeps saying how much weight she has gained and what she needs to do to get back in shape (the woman has a broken leg and two black eyes). Do we need that sort of energy?
Thank you, NetGalley, for sharing an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 24, 2025
I usually like anything by Susan Mallery, but this book didn't entertain me, or enlighten me - it just annoyed me.
I finally gave up at about 3/4 of the way through.
It sounded like a good premise - a broken adoption promise, a chance meet up and take it from there. However, there are just too many things going on at once. 4 women, all main characters, 4 sets of problems, and 4 annoying people repeatedly bemoaning their problems and/or fate in life.
I need to be entertained, not bored, annoyed, wanting to put these women's heads through a wall and yell at them to pull up their big girl panties and get on with it...
*ARC supplied by the publisher MIRA, the author, and NetGalley.
I finally gave up at about 3/4 of the way through.
It sounded like a good premise - a broken adoption promise, a chance meet up and take it from there. However, there are just too many things going on at once. 4 women, all main characters, 4 sets of problems, and 4 annoying people repeatedly bemoaning their problems and/or fate in life.
I need to be entertained, not bored, annoyed, wanting to put these women's heads through a wall and yell at them to pull up their big girl panties and get on with it...
*ARC supplied by the publisher MIRA, the author, and NetGalley.
November 13, 2025
Another great one by this author. Shannon and Cindy, and Ava and Victoria - quite the duos. The history between the families and the loss was well written. I enjoyed listening and reading this one, but felt disappointed with the ending. Mostly everything was wrapped up but it seemed to fall a little short after everything was built up during the course of the story. Perhaps there will be a sequel..
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
November 6, 2025
As usual, Susan Mallery's books are easy to read and are enjoyable. The concept for this book was interesting. It is about the relationship between two mothers and two daughters tied to adoption and birth. For me, the beginning of the story was a little confusing with so many characters, but it eventually settled down and made sense, and I liked the story. Although the concept was good, I felt like most of the characters were annoying and needed to get on with their life. I did like the two male characters. Unfortunately, the ending was abrupt. No closure or epilogue. I felt like it just ended. I normally enjoy Susan Mallery books, but this book was a miss for me.
October 9, 2025
I am not sure what it was about this book but honestly the daughter characters kind of annoyed me. As 20-something’s they just decide their narrative of family issues is the correct one and don’t deviate from that until the very end. It just felt repetitive and like they were spoiled. I usually enjoy Susan Mallery books but this one was a miss for me- I was just annoyed and disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2025
This was a beautiful, yet heart-wrenching read. Shows the difficult times between two mothers and their daughters… But also, the beautiful times. When you’re about to give up, but there’s that one person who you know you can depend on through thick and thin, good and bad…
BUT, I have to say, I had absolutely no idea what was going on in the beginning. There were four woman interacting, but I had no clue who was who, or how they were coming together… at least for a little while…
But then when they finally did? Wow!!! Dynamite!!
Shannon and Cindy have a good relationship. Cindy, the Mom, just got engaged… and she’s trying to plan the wedding.
Shannon has a great guy in Aaron, and they’ve been together for a long time. Cindy is really hoping that Aaron proposes so that they can do a double wedding! 🙏🏼🤔
Ava (Mom) and Victoria do not have a great relationship. Victoria thinks that nothing she ever does is ok with her Mom… but she’s not sure why. She does have a great relationship with her Dad though.
And, Victoria is currently out of commission… she’s a stunt double, and she just got thrown from a truck and is injured! 😮 Also, as an aside, her family has money… a lot of it.
So, this is the cast. And it’s a lot!
And you will grow to love each and every one of them… and, hate them too!
It’s an interesting combination, and situation… and, just when you think that nothing is making any sense… well, the pieces all just start to click together…
And the ending…. 🥹😮😭😊🩷
4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me,happily rounded up to 5!
#OtherwiseEmgaged by @SusanMallery and narrated nicely by @TanyaEby.
This one has NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!! Look 👀 for it on shelves soon, on 11/4/25!
Thanks so much to @NetGalley and @HarlequinAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
BUT, I have to say, I had absolutely no idea what was going on in the beginning. There were four woman interacting, but I had no clue who was who, or how they were coming together… at least for a little while…
But then when they finally did? Wow!!! Dynamite!!
Shannon and Cindy have a good relationship. Cindy, the Mom, just got engaged… and she’s trying to plan the wedding.
Shannon has a great guy in Aaron, and they’ve been together for a long time. Cindy is really hoping that Aaron proposes so that they can do a double wedding! 🙏🏼🤔
Ava (Mom) and Victoria do not have a great relationship. Victoria thinks that nothing she ever does is ok with her Mom… but she’s not sure why. She does have a great relationship with her Dad though.
And, Victoria is currently out of commission… she’s a stunt double, and she just got thrown from a truck and is injured! 😮 Also, as an aside, her family has money… a lot of it.
So, this is the cast. And it’s a lot!
And you will grow to love each and every one of them… and, hate them too!
It’s an interesting combination, and situation… and, just when you think that nothing is making any sense… well, the pieces all just start to click together…
And the ending…. 🥹😮😭😊🩷
4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me,happily rounded up to 5!
#OtherwiseEmgaged by @SusanMallery and narrated nicely by @TanyaEby.
This one has NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!! Look 👀 for it on shelves soon, on 11/4/25!
Thanks so much to @NetGalley and @HarlequinAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
October 14, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book. I did not like any of the female characters. Most of the time, I keep thinking these women are nuts and need to get on with their life, to stop dwelling on the past. I honestly don't know why anyone would want to be around them. I found them very self centered and miserable. The writing was good but sometimes the descriptions were too long, so I would tend to skim those paragraphs. I normally enjoy Susan Mallery books but this would be a miss for me.
November 5, 2025
This novel is contemporary fiction told with heart and humor and hope. There is some romance within the storyline, but the thrust of the plot is all about mother-daughter relationships and friendships. The four main characters are all fascinating and believable as they muddle through the obstacles to establishing good relationships, including trust. The moms in the story are Ava and Cindy. Ava’s adopted daughter is named Victoria, and she is a firecracker who bucks her mom on just about everything. Cindy’s daughter is Shannon and they are very close, perhaps too close as Shannon wants boundaries and her mom wants to be a part of every piece of her life. The conflicts are intriguing and thought-provoking since they encompass the topics of open adoption and helicopter mothering. I really enjoyed how the author moved smoothly from one character to another, letting me know what was going on in the life of each of them before they encountered one another at a wedding venue. The action was already absorbing and fast-paced, but it quickened even more and kept me turning pages as fast as I could so I could find out how the issues would be resolved. This is a brilliantly written and clever character study as well as a commentary on relationships and how to maintain them in a healthy manner. With insight given in a humorous and genuinely helpful way, this book had me thinking even as I chuckled my way through some of the issues of the four ladies. Although the plot is complex with the intertwining of the lives of the women, I never felt lost but instead I was immersed in each of their lives and clearly able to visualize their difficulty. The multiple layers were part of the charm and what kept me so completely engaged in the novel. This book is unforgettable in its clever plot and dynamic characters and is a definite five plus stars for me. It also lends itself to discussions in book groups and even has a set of questions at the end of the book to start those discussions.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
November 18, 2025
Otherwise Engaged by Susan Mallery (2025)
11h narrated by Tanya Eby, 368 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Featuring: Parents, Stuntwoman, Los Angeles, California; Sexagenarians, Vicenarians, Siblings, Family Dynamics, Crossroads, Engaged Couples, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Family Secrets, Wedding Planning, Adoption Story, Affluent Family, Found Family, Not Looking For Commitment vs Ready to Commit, Trust Fund Babies, Movie Industry, Sex - Mentioned, Direction, Self-Actualization, Screenplay, Building the Perfec Charcuterie Board, Author's Contact Information
Rating as a movie: R for adult content including profanity
Songs for the soundtrack: "Kum ba yah" ("Come By Here") by H. Wylie, Taylor Swift
Books and Authors mentioned: Frozen by Jennifer Lee, Jerry Maguire by Cameron Crowe [based on the life of] Leigh Steinberg, Through the Looking-glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll, Runaway Bride by Sara Parriott and Josann McGibbon, Titanic by James Cameron, Notting Hill by Richard Curtis
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½💍🔔🎬
My thoughts: 📱27% 2:57:51 Chapter 8 - Okay this story is hitting. I think I know what's going to happen with Victoria but we'll see.
📱42% 4:40:08 Chapter 12 - This is better than expected and I was spot on about Victoria and Javier.
The daughter's got on my nerves a bit but I still love the story. It was a good time and it's been a while since I've enjoyed a Mallery story this much.
Recommend to others: Yes. This was emotional but fun.
11h narrated by Tanya Eby, 368 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Featuring: Parents, Stuntwoman, Los Angeles, California; Sexagenarians, Vicenarians, Siblings, Family Dynamics, Crossroads, Engaged Couples, Mother-Daughter Relationships, Family Secrets, Wedding Planning, Adoption Story, Affluent Family, Found Family, Not Looking For Commitment vs Ready to Commit, Trust Fund Babies, Movie Industry, Sex - Mentioned, Direction, Self-Actualization, Screenplay, Building the Perfec Charcuterie Board, Author's Contact Information
Rating as a movie: R for adult content including profanity
Songs for the soundtrack: "Kum ba yah" ("Come By Here") by H. Wylie, Taylor Swift
Books and Authors mentioned: Frozen by Jennifer Lee, Jerry Maguire by Cameron Crowe [based on the life of] Leigh Steinberg, Through the Looking-glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll, Runaway Bride by Sara Parriott and Josann McGibbon, Titanic by James Cameron, Notting Hill by Richard Curtis
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½💍🔔🎬
My thoughts: 📱27% 2:57:51 Chapter 8 - Okay this story is hitting. I think I know what's going to happen with Victoria but we'll see.
📱42% 4:40:08 Chapter 12 - This is better than expected and I was spot on about Victoria and Javier.
The daughter's got on my nerves a bit but I still love the story. It was a good time and it's been a while since I've enjoyed a Mallery story this much.
Recommend to others: Yes. This was emotional but fun.
November 7, 2025
This book is 2.5 stars for me. The story revolves around two mother-daughter sets that run into one another at a venue that does weddings and other special events. The thing is, the two mothers (Ava and Cindy) knew each other 24 years before. Ava and her husband were going to adopt the then-pregnant teenager Cindy's baby. Once Cindy had her baby (Shannon) she fell in love with her and did not allow Ava and Milton to adopt her. Ava and Milton adopted a different daughter (Victoria). They all run into each other at the venue and a very convoluted story ensues.
Victoria always felt like she wasn't good enough for her mom Ava. Which is kind of true because Ava held onto losing Cindy (whom she thought of as a sister) and Shannon through the years. Victoria and Ava have a very strained relationship.
Shannon feels stifled by her mom Cindy who is very caring and does practically everything for her. Shannon gets engaged to Aaron but doesn't tell her mom because she doesn't have the courage to tell Cindy (who is also engaged) that she doesn't want a double-wedding.
These characters are human and they are flawed. They are so annoying, though! A few honest and straight-forward conversations (and probably some therapy) could have fixed a lot between all of these women. Also, I realize this story is about the mother-daughter dynamic but the men in their lives are there. Milton was the best developed of them. Luis, who is Cindy's fiancé is mentioned but there isn't a single scene between him and Cindy. Aaron, Shannon's fiancé is a decent guy, too. Javiar, I honestly don't know what he saw in Victoria. He is kind and generous and sweet. The way she treated him was gross!
The best relationship in this book was the one that developed between Shannon and Victoria. Their friendship had some really good sister-vibes to it that I like a lot. Then, just as it felt like things were coming together and the characters were making progress and having resolution - it ended. It was so abrupt and kind of weird.
Victoria always felt like she wasn't good enough for her mom Ava. Which is kind of true because Ava held onto losing Cindy (whom she thought of as a sister) and Shannon through the years. Victoria and Ava have a very strained relationship.
Shannon feels stifled by her mom Cindy who is very caring and does practically everything for her. Shannon gets engaged to Aaron but doesn't tell her mom because she doesn't have the courage to tell Cindy (who is also engaged) that she doesn't want a double-wedding.
These characters are human and they are flawed. They are so annoying, though! A few honest and straight-forward conversations (and probably some therapy) could have fixed a lot between all of these women. Also, I realize this story is about the mother-daughter dynamic but the men in their lives are there. Milton was the best developed of them. Luis, who is Cindy's fiancé is mentioned but there isn't a single scene between him and Cindy. Aaron, Shannon's fiancé is a decent guy, too. Javiar, I honestly don't know what he saw in Victoria. He is kind and generous and sweet. The way she treated him was gross!
The best relationship in this book was the one that developed between Shannon and Victoria. Their friendship had some really good sister-vibes to it that I like a lot. Then, just as it felt like things were coming together and the characters were making progress and having resolution - it ended. It was so abrupt and kind of weird.
November 18, 2025
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of this book. Susan Mallery has been a favorite author of mine for many years and this book was another heartwarming story. This story follows two sets of mother/daughter pairs. They are parallel stories that do merge once we know the connection. This story had hope, humor, frustration, love and many other emotions.
November 4, 2025
I knew I'd love this book and I was right! Susan Mallery is one of my authors that never disappoints but is never predictable. It has all the feels and some unexpected turns. I highly recommend this book. You'll hate to put it down.
September 18, 2025
Love all things Susan Mallery and this did not disappoint! Love this tale of a two mothers and daughters. Mother-Daughter relationship here is your normal Mother running daughters lives, helicopter mom and what if’s – love the twists and turns with their relationships and how the daughters has to really dig within themselves, sometimes realizing their mom’s weren’t all controlling, but supportive and letting them live their lives. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC #SusanMallery #OtherwiseEngaged #NetGalley
November 8, 2025
I just finished reading an advance copy of this book and I loved it!
One decision, 8 lives impacted by that one decision to varying degrees and 4 characters whose lives and feelings are dug into. A number of things are shown skillfully in this novel including how complicated the human relationship can be with other humans. The web of connection was complicated to sort through but this book took us on a delightful journey as it proceeded to sort through the impact of that one decision on the 4 main characters lives.
This book is actually quite engaging and kept me entertained right to the end. Like other books of Susan's that I have read, I was left at the end wanting to know more about the characters and what happens in their lives after the close of the book. Leave it to Susan to get me thinking about a book and its characters even after I'm done reading the book. They literally come to life on the page! (Even the screenplay characters started to have a life of their own! LOL)
One decision, 8 lives impacted by that one decision to varying degrees and 4 characters whose lives and feelings are dug into. A number of things are shown skillfully in this novel including how complicated the human relationship can be with other humans. The web of connection was complicated to sort through but this book took us on a delightful journey as it proceeded to sort through the impact of that one decision on the 4 main characters lives.
This book is actually quite engaging and kept me entertained right to the end. Like other books of Susan's that I have read, I was left at the end wanting to know more about the characters and what happens in their lives after the close of the book. Leave it to Susan to get me thinking about a book and its characters even after I'm done reading the book. They literally come to life on the page! (Even the screenplay characters started to have a life of their own! LOL)
December 12, 2025
I used to really love Susan Mallery books but I have to say the last few haven’t quite lived up to expectations. This one was really slow to get me engaged; in fact, I was halfway through it and still wasn’t “hooked”. The two main women were complete opposites, with one being an absolute doormat and the other being more along the line of “nobody tells me what to do even if I’m cutting my nose off to spite my face”…both of which I dislike.
November 5, 2025
Enjoyed this read very much.The relationship between two mothers and daughters .It had lots of problems as well as beautiful times .would recommend this book.
November 11, 2025
An interesting story about two adopted girls and their adult lives.
December 18, 2025
It took me a bit to like the women here. They grew on me!
December 10, 2025
I LOVE me some Susan Mallery, but this didn't do it for me! The writing felt different and the ending...what was that?! I do want to make more charcuterie boards now! 😝
December 23, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars
December 4, 2025
I stopped reading when I realized this book was about adoption but the author did not do enough research to use the proper terms surrounding adoption. As an adoptive mom, it’s disappointing and does harm to continue to use negative terminology when talking about adoption. Do better.
November 25, 2025
Ugh!
This was over 300 pages of privileged women whining about their good lives. They had so much angst over every little thing. They were so committed to paint themselves as victims. Nobody tried to move on or grow up. It was sickening.
This was over 300 pages of privileged women whining about their good lives. They had so much angst over every little thing. They were so committed to paint themselves as victims. Nobody tried to move on or grow up. It was sickening.
November 15, 2025
Thanks to net galley for an advanced copy. I usually love this authors books and her books, it this one was not what I expected from the title. The characters were so irritating and they all seemed to complain and have a pity party through the story. The story just dragged on and on about the failed adoption and the relationship between them. I wanted to stop so many times and I still did not like it. I am disappointed and after finishing, I am still in sure truly what this story was about.
November 16, 2025
Dialogue was repetitive. All the characters were indecisive, immature, and quite annoying
December 11, 2025
I do not think I have EVER given a book a ONE star rating until now. I have read so many novels by Susan Mallory, and normally give them 3 or 4 stars, and think of them as a pleasant pastime, a sure thing for a happy ending, with tales of friendships, family dynamics, and love. Those elements were here, but the novel was filled with so much ignorance and shallowness that it was nearly intolerable. I had to finish it, though, as I was curious how the author would bring it to a close, what she would do with her absolutely clueless and impossibly unrealistic characters.
I must preface this all by sharing the fact that I have three wonderful children, all adopted at different times (though all were young infants) from different birthmothers in different parts of the world. My first was a private adoption in the United States, while the other two were foreign adoptions from China. I share this because the book is about adoption and is filled with such fallacies and insults that I would love to sit down with the author and tell her all the ways in which she failed to create a realistic portrayal of how it is done! Readers who have not adopted their children, or have not gone through it as invested friends or relatives, may love the book, but they need to know that are being mislead and misinformed and that Ms. Mallory has done a disservice to something that is important, wonderful, and beautiful.
People hoping to adopt do not go around looking for a pregnant person who looks just like them and then ask to adopt their baby. It does NOT work that way at all. Birthmothers, in private adoptions, are shown photos and biographies of perspective parents, and they choose the family that appeals to them for all sorts of reasons. Our birthmother liked a photo of us on a beach in Cape Cod with our little schnauzer. She said she always wished she could have a dog. You never know what will cause a young woman to make the choice she does. People who have lost babies, suffered years of painfully and heartbreaking infertility, come to the conclusion that being a parent is what matters, not the color their baby's hair or whether or not they will tall. Not so in "Otherwise Engaged," where wealthy, snooty Ava, and her very patient husband, decides she must adopt the baby of a not quite 18 year old girl who looks enough like her that they could be sisters. This is mentioned ad nauseam. Both women are tall and lean with blonde hair and blue eyes. Since when is that what matters in life? When Cindy, the birthmother, realized (24 years earlier) that she could not give up her baby, Ava and her husband were on a vacation, so they never did see the baby, and never saw Cindy again, and yet...Ava mourned that child the way a parent whose 15 year old would mourn theirs if it died. Ava never removed the mural on the wall of the nursery she had created, never could stop talking about the baby she believed would be blonde and blue eyed, and always made the daughter she DID adopt a few months later feel truly loved. She ended up adopting her Latina maid's infant, a child who had dark hair and a short, curvy body type as a woman, but this little girl, Victoria, never felt loved by her mother, though her father nearly made up for that, as he adored her. Ava and Victoria butted heads on everything in life and all Ava could think about was how she and Cindy's baby, whom she also planned to name Victoria, but whose name is Shannon, would be so alike and get along beautifully. It was ridiculous. She never met the child, and that child was never hers. She could have been, but women have the right to keep their babies, even if they thought they could relinquish them. Shannon and Cindy had the kind of mother daughter relationship for which Ava longed. The level of longing, and whining, wishing, and mourning was just out of control. Those of us who have lost babies know it is hard, but we move on and love the babies who, ultimately, through birth or adoption, become our children. I always say that had I not gone through the losses, I would never have had the beautiful children I am so lucky to call my own.
So now, 24 years later, Ava and Cindy, who had cared about one another for the few months they were in one another's lives while Cindy was pregnant, are each living different lives, and have never bumped into one another. Cindy felt guilty for changing her mind, as if she stole something, but the baby was always hers unless she had decided to let her go! She has been a good mother and is now engaged, for the first time, in her late 30s. Shannon is helping Cindy plan a wedding, but is not telling Cindy that she, too, is newly engaged. She does not want to take the attention from her mother, and also knows (but does not want) that her mother will ask for a double wedding. Meanwhile, Victoria, who is a stunt person on movie sets, refuses to have a relationship with any man, but will sleep with any man who comes her way with whom she can (in her words, not mine) "get off." She, too, is 24 but acts as if she is far older and somewhat bitter about a broken heart, thus closing herself off to love ever again. Who does that at 24? She is also bitter that her mother wanted the other baby, loved the baby she never met, never held, never adopted, more than she seemed to want Victoria. This was all just ridiculous to me!
When the women finally do bump into one another, all hell breaks out, and Ava does some of the most vile things, so hurtful to Victoria, and unfair to Cindy, and Cindy feels more guilty than ever. Again, this is ridiculous! She did not steal a baby from anyone. It was hers!
At different times, each girl will spend time with the other mother and share and learn things. Victoria will keep looking to get someone into bed with no emotional connection. Ava's husband will continue to be a doormat to Ava, but to love Victoria unconditionally. There is a word for this in Yiddish. It was all such "drek." It's a good word to have handy in your vocabulary when no other will do! If you know, you know. It just works and this book was complete drek. One star, only because there is no way to give zero. Remember, I have like many of this author's prior books. Thank goodness this was not the first of hers I read, or I would have missed some good ones!
I must preface this all by sharing the fact that I have three wonderful children, all adopted at different times (though all were young infants) from different birthmothers in different parts of the world. My first was a private adoption in the United States, while the other two were foreign adoptions from China. I share this because the book is about adoption and is filled with such fallacies and insults that I would love to sit down with the author and tell her all the ways in which she failed to create a realistic portrayal of how it is done! Readers who have not adopted their children, or have not gone through it as invested friends or relatives, may love the book, but they need to know that are being mislead and misinformed and that Ms. Mallory has done a disservice to something that is important, wonderful, and beautiful.
People hoping to adopt do not go around looking for a pregnant person who looks just like them and then ask to adopt their baby. It does NOT work that way at all. Birthmothers, in private adoptions, are shown photos and biographies of perspective parents, and they choose the family that appeals to them for all sorts of reasons. Our birthmother liked a photo of us on a beach in Cape Cod with our little schnauzer. She said she always wished she could have a dog. You never know what will cause a young woman to make the choice she does. People who have lost babies, suffered years of painfully and heartbreaking infertility, come to the conclusion that being a parent is what matters, not the color their baby's hair or whether or not they will tall. Not so in "Otherwise Engaged," where wealthy, snooty Ava, and her very patient husband, decides she must adopt the baby of a not quite 18 year old girl who looks enough like her that they could be sisters. This is mentioned ad nauseam. Both women are tall and lean with blonde hair and blue eyes. Since when is that what matters in life? When Cindy, the birthmother, realized (24 years earlier) that she could not give up her baby, Ava and her husband were on a vacation, so they never did see the baby, and never saw Cindy again, and yet...Ava mourned that child the way a parent whose 15 year old would mourn theirs if it died. Ava never removed the mural on the wall of the nursery she had created, never could stop talking about the baby she believed would be blonde and blue eyed, and always made the daughter she DID adopt a few months later feel truly loved. She ended up adopting her Latina maid's infant, a child who had dark hair and a short, curvy body type as a woman, but this little girl, Victoria, never felt loved by her mother, though her father nearly made up for that, as he adored her. Ava and Victoria butted heads on everything in life and all Ava could think about was how she and Cindy's baby, whom she also planned to name Victoria, but whose name is Shannon, would be so alike and get along beautifully. It was ridiculous. She never met the child, and that child was never hers. She could have been, but women have the right to keep their babies, even if they thought they could relinquish them. Shannon and Cindy had the kind of mother daughter relationship for which Ava longed. The level of longing, and whining, wishing, and mourning was just out of control. Those of us who have lost babies know it is hard, but we move on and love the babies who, ultimately, through birth or adoption, become our children. I always say that had I not gone through the losses, I would never have had the beautiful children I am so lucky to call my own.
So now, 24 years later, Ava and Cindy, who had cared about one another for the few months they were in one another's lives while Cindy was pregnant, are each living different lives, and have never bumped into one another. Cindy felt guilty for changing her mind, as if she stole something, but the baby was always hers unless she had decided to let her go! She has been a good mother and is now engaged, for the first time, in her late 30s. Shannon is helping Cindy plan a wedding, but is not telling Cindy that she, too, is newly engaged. She does not want to take the attention from her mother, and also knows (but does not want) that her mother will ask for a double wedding. Meanwhile, Victoria, who is a stunt person on movie sets, refuses to have a relationship with any man, but will sleep with any man who comes her way with whom she can (in her words, not mine) "get off." She, too, is 24 but acts as if she is far older and somewhat bitter about a broken heart, thus closing herself off to love ever again. Who does that at 24? She is also bitter that her mother wanted the other baby, loved the baby she never met, never held, never adopted, more than she seemed to want Victoria. This was all just ridiculous to me!
When the women finally do bump into one another, all hell breaks out, and Ava does some of the most vile things, so hurtful to Victoria, and unfair to Cindy, and Cindy feels more guilty than ever. Again, this is ridiculous! She did not steal a baby from anyone. It was hers!
At different times, each girl will spend time with the other mother and share and learn things. Victoria will keep looking to get someone into bed with no emotional connection. Ava's husband will continue to be a doormat to Ava, but to love Victoria unconditionally. There is a word for this in Yiddish. It was all such "drek." It's a good word to have handy in your vocabulary when no other will do! If you know, you know. It just works and this book was complete drek. One star, only because there is no way to give zero. Remember, I have like many of this author's prior books. Thank goodness this was not the first of hers I read, or I would have missed some good ones!
November 11, 2025
Book review: Otherwise Engaged by Susan Mallery
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
Susan Mallery’s Otherwise Engaged is a cozy cup of emotional chaos with a cinnamon stick of scandal and just the right dash of sarcasm. It’s a story about four women whose lives crash into each other like a slow-motion car wreck at a wedding venue—and just like any good car crash, you can’t look away. Mallery weaves together mothers, daughters, secrets, and regrets into a novel that’s warm, witty, and occasionally exasperating in all the best ways. If you like your fiction smart, sharp, and full of complicated women, this one’s got your name on it.
Let’s start with Shannon. She’s recently engaged, thrilled, and entirely too aware that if she tells her mom, Cindy, it will somehow turn into a joint celebration. Nothing says nightmare like a mother-daughter double wedding. So, Shannon keeps quiet—for now. Cindy, meanwhile, is planning the event of her dreams with her new fiancé, Luis, blissfully unaware that her daughter is dodging wedding planners and ring-related conversations like it’s an Olympic sport. Their dynamic is loving, codependent, and just a little too close for comfort—which is, of course, exactly the point.
Then there’s Victoria, a Hollywood stuntwoman with a broken leg and a bruised relationship with her mother, Ava. Victoria has swagger, grit, and zero interest in playing the obedient daughter. Ava, for her part, is the type of woman who refers to her wine as “cellared” even when it came from the grocery store. She’s all polish, legacy, and latent disappointment. Their mother-daughter relationship isn’t just strained—it’s dehydrated.
And then—surprise!—these two mother-daughter duos collide at a wedding venue. Not just a “Oh wow, we both like this ballroom” moment. No, it’s a “Hey, I almost adopted your daughter 24 years ago and never quite got over it” moment. That’s right: Cindy, as a pregnant teenager, had once chosen Ava to adopt her baby. Then she changed her mind at the last minute. Ava, wounded and unable to fully bond with the daughter she eventually did adopt, carried that hurt like emotional carry-on baggage ever since. Shannon and Victoria, caught in the blast radius of their mothers’ choices, have to reckon with who they are—and who they might have been.
Mallery has always excelled at writing women’s fiction that’s emotionally grounded but never cloying. Here, she nails the complexity of maternal love, resentment, generational trauma, and unexpected friendship. What makes Otherwise Engaged sing is its humor. This isn’t a story that wallows. It zips along, full of awkward encounters, emotionally charged conversations, and sharp, self-aware dialogue. Shannon’s inner monologue alone deserves its own novella. Victoria’s dry humor could power a sarcasm-fueled rocket to Mars.
Take this gem from Victoria, when reflecting on her mother: “If Ava had a motto, it would be: ‘Don’t feel it—don’t even think about feeling it.’” That one sentence tells you everything about their relationship—and it’s delivered with the kind of smart bite that Mallery slips in like a well-placed stiletto.
Still, this book isn’t all quips and quick dialogue. It takes its characters seriously. Ava’s pain is real, even when she’s hard to like. Cindy’s enthusiasm, while occasionally suffocating, is rooted in the kind of love that’s survived hardship. And both daughters—Shannon and Victoria—have believable emotional arcs as they wrestle with the fallout from decisions made decades before they had any say in the matter.
I especially appreciated the way Mallery portrayed female friendship as something not just important, but transformative. Shannon and Victoria start off as awkward acquaintances, connected by circumstances they didn’t choose. But slowly, without fanfare, they begin to trust each other, challenge each other, and find common ground. It’s messy. It’s honest. It’s not always smooth. But it’s also kind of beautiful.
This book has a lot going on, and yet it never feels crowded. The pacing is brisk, the chapters tight, and every scene feels like it matters. There’s no dead air, no filler. Even the side characters—Luis, Aaron, Milton—are well drawn and bring depth to the emotional landscape. Javier, in particular, adds just enough romantic tension to keep things interesting without derailing the story’s core focus: these four women and their tangled history.
That said, if you’re expecting a traditional romance arc with a neat bow at the end, you might be mildly confused. This is women’s fiction first, character-driven and emotionally centered. The romantic subplot is more seasoning than main course. And honestly? That’s what makes it great. There’s something refreshing about watching characters grow without needing a grand love story to validate them.
If I have one critique, it’s that the ending feels a little… sudden. Not incomplete, exactly. But there’s so much rich emotional terrain covered throughout the book, you almost want one final beat, one more conversation, one last moment of catharsis. Then again, maybe that’s life. Not every story wraps up neatly. Some just shift course, open new chapters, and leave you wondering what comes next. That ambiguity isn’t a flaw—it’s a choice. And I respect it.
In the end, Otherwise Engaged is a smart, moving, and darkly funny exploration of what we owe each other—especially when we’re bound by blood, secrets, or sheer dumb luck. It’s about the past we inherit, the family we make, and the people we become when the truth finally comes out. Susan Mallery proves once again why she’s a powerhouse in contemporary fiction. She doesn’t just write stories. She builds emotional ecosystems.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#OtherwiseEngaged #SusanMallery #NetGalley #WomensFiction #MotherDaughterDrama #FoundFamily #CharacterDrivenFiction #BookReview #EmotionalRead #FallBookRelease #BookishLove #ARCReview #HarlequinBooks #CozyReads #SharpFiction #BookstagramRecs #NovemberReads
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
Susan Mallery’s Otherwise Engaged is a cozy cup of emotional chaos with a cinnamon stick of scandal and just the right dash of sarcasm. It’s a story about four women whose lives crash into each other like a slow-motion car wreck at a wedding venue—and just like any good car crash, you can’t look away. Mallery weaves together mothers, daughters, secrets, and regrets into a novel that’s warm, witty, and occasionally exasperating in all the best ways. If you like your fiction smart, sharp, and full of complicated women, this one’s got your name on it.
Let’s start with Shannon. She’s recently engaged, thrilled, and entirely too aware that if she tells her mom, Cindy, it will somehow turn into a joint celebration. Nothing says nightmare like a mother-daughter double wedding. So, Shannon keeps quiet—for now. Cindy, meanwhile, is planning the event of her dreams with her new fiancé, Luis, blissfully unaware that her daughter is dodging wedding planners and ring-related conversations like it’s an Olympic sport. Their dynamic is loving, codependent, and just a little too close for comfort—which is, of course, exactly the point.
Then there’s Victoria, a Hollywood stuntwoman with a broken leg and a bruised relationship with her mother, Ava. Victoria has swagger, grit, and zero interest in playing the obedient daughter. Ava, for her part, is the type of woman who refers to her wine as “cellared” even when it came from the grocery store. She’s all polish, legacy, and latent disappointment. Their mother-daughter relationship isn’t just strained—it’s dehydrated.
And then—surprise!—these two mother-daughter duos collide at a wedding venue. Not just a “Oh wow, we both like this ballroom” moment. No, it’s a “Hey, I almost adopted your daughter 24 years ago and never quite got over it” moment. That’s right: Cindy, as a pregnant teenager, had once chosen Ava to adopt her baby. Then she changed her mind at the last minute. Ava, wounded and unable to fully bond with the daughter she eventually did adopt, carried that hurt like emotional carry-on baggage ever since. Shannon and Victoria, caught in the blast radius of their mothers’ choices, have to reckon with who they are—and who they might have been.
Mallery has always excelled at writing women’s fiction that’s emotionally grounded but never cloying. Here, she nails the complexity of maternal love, resentment, generational trauma, and unexpected friendship. What makes Otherwise Engaged sing is its humor. This isn’t a story that wallows. It zips along, full of awkward encounters, emotionally charged conversations, and sharp, self-aware dialogue. Shannon’s inner monologue alone deserves its own novella. Victoria’s dry humor could power a sarcasm-fueled rocket to Mars.
Take this gem from Victoria, when reflecting on her mother: “If Ava had a motto, it would be: ‘Don’t feel it—don’t even think about feeling it.’” That one sentence tells you everything about their relationship—and it’s delivered with the kind of smart bite that Mallery slips in like a well-placed stiletto.
Still, this book isn’t all quips and quick dialogue. It takes its characters seriously. Ava’s pain is real, even when she’s hard to like. Cindy’s enthusiasm, while occasionally suffocating, is rooted in the kind of love that’s survived hardship. And both daughters—Shannon and Victoria—have believable emotional arcs as they wrestle with the fallout from decisions made decades before they had any say in the matter.
I especially appreciated the way Mallery portrayed female friendship as something not just important, but transformative. Shannon and Victoria start off as awkward acquaintances, connected by circumstances they didn’t choose. But slowly, without fanfare, they begin to trust each other, challenge each other, and find common ground. It’s messy. It’s honest. It’s not always smooth. But it’s also kind of beautiful.
This book has a lot going on, and yet it never feels crowded. The pacing is brisk, the chapters tight, and every scene feels like it matters. There’s no dead air, no filler. Even the side characters—Luis, Aaron, Milton—are well drawn and bring depth to the emotional landscape. Javier, in particular, adds just enough romantic tension to keep things interesting without derailing the story’s core focus: these four women and their tangled history.
That said, if you’re expecting a traditional romance arc with a neat bow at the end, you might be mildly confused. This is women’s fiction first, character-driven and emotionally centered. The romantic subplot is more seasoning than main course. And honestly? That’s what makes it great. There’s something refreshing about watching characters grow without needing a grand love story to validate them.
If I have one critique, it’s that the ending feels a little… sudden. Not incomplete, exactly. But there’s so much rich emotional terrain covered throughout the book, you almost want one final beat, one more conversation, one last moment of catharsis. Then again, maybe that’s life. Not every story wraps up neatly. Some just shift course, open new chapters, and leave you wondering what comes next. That ambiguity isn’t a flaw—it’s a choice. And I respect it.
In the end, Otherwise Engaged is a smart, moving, and darkly funny exploration of what we owe each other—especially when we’re bound by blood, secrets, or sheer dumb luck. It’s about the past we inherit, the family we make, and the people we become when the truth finally comes out. Susan Mallery proves once again why she’s a powerhouse in contemporary fiction. She doesn’t just write stories. She builds emotional ecosystems.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#OtherwiseEngaged #SusanMallery #NetGalley #WomensFiction #MotherDaughterDrama #FoundFamily #CharacterDrivenFiction #BookReview #EmotionalRead #FallBookRelease #BookishLove #ARCReview #HarlequinBooks #CozyReads #SharpFiction #BookstagramRecs #NovemberReads
November 11, 2025
📚Otherwise Engaged
✍🏻Susan Mallery
Blurb:A twisty, tender and wise look at how secrets can transform the powerful—and sometimes problematic—bond between mothers and daughters, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery.
When Shannon gets engaged, her beloved mom, Cindy, is the first person she wants to tell—and the last. Cindy’s engaged, too, and has already hinted at a double wedding. The image of a synchronized bouquet toss with her mom fills Shannon with horror. She’ll keep her engagement a secret until Cindy’s I-dos are done.
Victoria has never been proper enough for her mother, Ava, so she stopped trying. She lives on her own terms and amuses herself by pushing Ava’s buttons. Ava loves but doesn’t understand her stuntwoman daughter. When a movie-set mishap brings Victoria home, Ava longs to finally connect.
Chance brings the four women together at a wedding venue, where a shocking secret comes tumbling out. Twenty-four years ago, desperate teenager Cindy chose wealthy Ava to adopt her baby—then changed her mind at the very last second. The loss rocked Ava’s world, leaving her unable to open her heart to the daughter she did adopt, Victoria. As Shannon and Victoria deal with the fallout from the decisions their mothers made, they wrestle with whether who they are is different than who they might have become.
My Thoughts:
Susan Mallery’s Otherwise Engaged is a heartwarming and character-driven novel that explores the complexities of family, identity, and the intricate web of love. Through a series of interconnected stories, the book delves into the lives of four women—Ava and Victoria Rogers, and Cindy and Shannon Van Horn—mothers and daughters who are navigating personal upheaval. The novel beautifully captures the powerful bonds that both tear and strengthen the mothers and daughters, highlighting the messy yet beautiful nature of love.
Cindy is engaged and is planning her wedding and Shannon is also engaged but doesn’t want to tell her mom because she knows her mom will want a double-wedding which is Shannon’s worst nightmare.
Ava is a wealthy woman who runs a foundation that provides funding to organizations supporting teenagers. She has a gorgeous house and a loving husband, but she was never able to have children of her own. She and her husband adopted a baby almost 25 years ago. This story is about the first child they thought they would adopt. They befriended a pregnant teenager, Cindy, after she chose them as the couple to whom she would give her baby once it was born. Cindy and Ava looked alike and became friends through the experience. But Cindy started to have feelings about her baby and decided to keep her after all. Ava and her husband were devastated. A few months later, their maid came to them with an offer to adopt her baby.
Victoria was adopted by Ava and her husband, Milton. Victoria is a stuntwoman and had an accident on set and is now hobbled and having to depend on her parents again. Her mother and her have a contentious relationship, at best.
Fast forward 24 years, and we have Ava and her adopted daughter, Victoria. Victoria is a Hollywood stuntwoman, recovering after an on-set accident. And we have Cindy with her daughter, Shannon, who works together at a real estate office.
Ava and Cindy run into each other scouting a wedding venue, and the two women are shocked to say the least. They begin to build a relationship, but Ava, especially, seems stuck in the past. Each of the women struggles with the situation. Victoria feels like the second-choice baby who was adopted. Shannon wonders what it would have been like to grow up in a wealthy family, rather than be raised by a single mother. Cindy feels tremendous guilt that she kept her baby.
Milton is about to turn 50 and Ava is planning his party and while looking at a venue, she runs into Cindy who is also looking at the venue for her wedding. Suddenly, secrets come to light and the drama amps up. Otherwise Engaged was a rocky emotional story
Thanks NetGalley, MIRA Publishing and Author Susan Mallery for the complimentary copy of "Otherwise Engaged" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#MIRAPublishing
#OtherwiseEngaged
#SusanMallery
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️Trigger Warnings Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Infertility, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
✍🏻Susan Mallery
Blurb:A twisty, tender and wise look at how secrets can transform the powerful—and sometimes problematic—bond between mothers and daughters, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery.
When Shannon gets engaged, her beloved mom, Cindy, is the first person she wants to tell—and the last. Cindy’s engaged, too, and has already hinted at a double wedding. The image of a synchronized bouquet toss with her mom fills Shannon with horror. She’ll keep her engagement a secret until Cindy’s I-dos are done.
Victoria has never been proper enough for her mother, Ava, so she stopped trying. She lives on her own terms and amuses herself by pushing Ava’s buttons. Ava loves but doesn’t understand her stuntwoman daughter. When a movie-set mishap brings Victoria home, Ava longs to finally connect.
Chance brings the four women together at a wedding venue, where a shocking secret comes tumbling out. Twenty-four years ago, desperate teenager Cindy chose wealthy Ava to adopt her baby—then changed her mind at the very last second. The loss rocked Ava’s world, leaving her unable to open her heart to the daughter she did adopt, Victoria. As Shannon and Victoria deal with the fallout from the decisions their mothers made, they wrestle with whether who they are is different than who they might have become.
My Thoughts:
Susan Mallery’s Otherwise Engaged is a heartwarming and character-driven novel that explores the complexities of family, identity, and the intricate web of love. Through a series of interconnected stories, the book delves into the lives of four women—Ava and Victoria Rogers, and Cindy and Shannon Van Horn—mothers and daughters who are navigating personal upheaval. The novel beautifully captures the powerful bonds that both tear and strengthen the mothers and daughters, highlighting the messy yet beautiful nature of love.
Cindy is engaged and is planning her wedding and Shannon is also engaged but doesn’t want to tell her mom because she knows her mom will want a double-wedding which is Shannon’s worst nightmare.
Ava is a wealthy woman who runs a foundation that provides funding to organizations supporting teenagers. She has a gorgeous house and a loving husband, but she was never able to have children of her own. She and her husband adopted a baby almost 25 years ago. This story is about the first child they thought they would adopt. They befriended a pregnant teenager, Cindy, after she chose them as the couple to whom she would give her baby once it was born. Cindy and Ava looked alike and became friends through the experience. But Cindy started to have feelings about her baby and decided to keep her after all. Ava and her husband were devastated. A few months later, their maid came to them with an offer to adopt her baby.
Victoria was adopted by Ava and her husband, Milton. Victoria is a stuntwoman and had an accident on set and is now hobbled and having to depend on her parents again. Her mother and her have a contentious relationship, at best.
Fast forward 24 years, and we have Ava and her adopted daughter, Victoria. Victoria is a Hollywood stuntwoman, recovering after an on-set accident. And we have Cindy with her daughter, Shannon, who works together at a real estate office.
Ava and Cindy run into each other scouting a wedding venue, and the two women are shocked to say the least. They begin to build a relationship, but Ava, especially, seems stuck in the past. Each of the women struggles with the situation. Victoria feels like the second-choice baby who was adopted. Shannon wonders what it would have been like to grow up in a wealthy family, rather than be raised by a single mother. Cindy feels tremendous guilt that she kept her baby.
Milton is about to turn 50 and Ava is planning his party and while looking at a venue, she runs into Cindy who is also looking at the venue for her wedding. Suddenly, secrets come to light and the drama amps up. Otherwise Engaged was a rocky emotional story
Thanks NetGalley, MIRA Publishing and Author Susan Mallery for the complimentary copy of "Otherwise Engaged" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#MIRAPublishing
#OtherwiseEngaged
#SusanMallery
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️Trigger Warnings Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Infertility, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
October 15, 2025
There is a very specific kind of horror that can only come from your mother wanting to throw a double wedding. Susan Mallery taps into that chaos like she’s mining it for emotional gold in Otherwise Engaged, and I’ve gotta say... she almost fools you into thinking it’s gonna be a light rom-com. But no, babe. This is a full-blown secret-baby identity crisis with a matching tulle sash and generational trauma.
Shannon is your classic good daughter. She’s emotionally fused to her mother, Cindy, in a way that feels cozy until it’s... aggressively not. Like, she’s engaged to a perfectly nice man named Aaron, but cannot tell her mother because she knows Cindy will try to plan a joint wedding. That’s not a joke. Cindy hears “engagement” and immediately starts monogramming napkins for two. Shannon’s solution? Lie. A lot. Because nothing says “healthy communication” like panic-hiding your engagement from your best friend who also happens to be your mother.
Meanwhile, in an entirely different emotional minefield, Victoria is out here doing stunts for a living and emotional warfare as a hobby. She’s the kind of daughter who does backflips off buildings for work and passive-aggressive mic drops at family dinners for sport. Her mother, Ava, is basically a sharp-tongued socialite with an ice sculpture for a heart, but she’s trying. Sort of. Victoria’s forced home after a work injury, and let’s just say the mother-daughter reunion has all the warmth of a Scandinavian crime thriller.
And then, like a chaotic wedding DJ smashing two very different songs into one weirdly danceable remix, these four women crash into each other at a wedding venue. What starts as mild awkwardness becomes full “you were gonna adopt me?!” family drama. Twenty-four years ago, Cindy had a baby she was this close to giving to Ava and Milton. Like, legal papers were signed, hand-knit baby blankets were embroidered, and then... at the very last second... Cindy went “actually no, vibes are off” and kept her baby. That baby is Shannon. Ava never emotionally recovered. And the adopted daughter she did end up with? Yeah, Victoria. Plot twist, meet trauma spiral.
The book’s beating heart is this tangled web of what ifs and identity crises. Shannon is spiraling over her very existence like she’s in an existential rom-com, while Victoria is trying not to scream every time someone suggests she’s “just like Ava.” These women are not okay. But the delicious part is watching them try to be... pushing against their mothers, reaching for independence, learning that love doesn’t mean cloning yourself or fixing what someone broke 20 years ago.
Now, let’s talk Tanya Eby for a sec because her narration is chef’s kiss. She gets every tone shift exactly right... the cringe, the heartbreak, the moments where you want to crawl inside your own sweater in secondhand embarrassment. Her performance holds the whole messy, layered thing together with just enough warmth to keep you from walking into the sea.
But let’s be real: this wasn’t perfect. The middle third drags like a drunk bridesmaid speech that won’t end, and sometimes the dialogue slips into sitcom territory... like, yes we get it, Ava’s cold and Victoria’s sarcastic, move along. And the ending? Abrupt enough to make you check if your download glitched. I needed like two more pages of closure and maybe one final dramatic toast. Still, the emotional payoff is solid enough to make you forgive it.
At 3.5 stars, Otherwise Engaged delivers mother-daughter drama with a generous side of “who even am I?” chaos. It’s funny, it’s raw, it’s occasionally a little much... like every family gathering ever. And I mean that with love.
Huge thanks to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the early access to the audiobook of Otherwise Engaged. It was a total rollercoaster of mother-daughter meltdowns, wedding planning chaos, and secrets with emotional teeth. Tanya Eby’s narration made every sharp turn hit even harder. Appreciate the chance to spiral early with these characters in my ears.
Shannon is your classic good daughter. She’s emotionally fused to her mother, Cindy, in a way that feels cozy until it’s... aggressively not. Like, she’s engaged to a perfectly nice man named Aaron, but cannot tell her mother because she knows Cindy will try to plan a joint wedding. That’s not a joke. Cindy hears “engagement” and immediately starts monogramming napkins for two. Shannon’s solution? Lie. A lot. Because nothing says “healthy communication” like panic-hiding your engagement from your best friend who also happens to be your mother.
Meanwhile, in an entirely different emotional minefield, Victoria is out here doing stunts for a living and emotional warfare as a hobby. She’s the kind of daughter who does backflips off buildings for work and passive-aggressive mic drops at family dinners for sport. Her mother, Ava, is basically a sharp-tongued socialite with an ice sculpture for a heart, but she’s trying. Sort of. Victoria’s forced home after a work injury, and let’s just say the mother-daughter reunion has all the warmth of a Scandinavian crime thriller.
And then, like a chaotic wedding DJ smashing two very different songs into one weirdly danceable remix, these four women crash into each other at a wedding venue. What starts as mild awkwardness becomes full “you were gonna adopt me?!” family drama. Twenty-four years ago, Cindy had a baby she was this close to giving to Ava and Milton. Like, legal papers were signed, hand-knit baby blankets were embroidered, and then... at the very last second... Cindy went “actually no, vibes are off” and kept her baby. That baby is Shannon. Ava never emotionally recovered. And the adopted daughter she did end up with? Yeah, Victoria. Plot twist, meet trauma spiral.
The book’s beating heart is this tangled web of what ifs and identity crises. Shannon is spiraling over her very existence like she’s in an existential rom-com, while Victoria is trying not to scream every time someone suggests she’s “just like Ava.” These women are not okay. But the delicious part is watching them try to be... pushing against their mothers, reaching for independence, learning that love doesn’t mean cloning yourself or fixing what someone broke 20 years ago.
Now, let’s talk Tanya Eby for a sec because her narration is chef’s kiss. She gets every tone shift exactly right... the cringe, the heartbreak, the moments where you want to crawl inside your own sweater in secondhand embarrassment. Her performance holds the whole messy, layered thing together with just enough warmth to keep you from walking into the sea.
But let’s be real: this wasn’t perfect. The middle third drags like a drunk bridesmaid speech that won’t end, and sometimes the dialogue slips into sitcom territory... like, yes we get it, Ava’s cold and Victoria’s sarcastic, move along. And the ending? Abrupt enough to make you check if your download glitched. I needed like two more pages of closure and maybe one final dramatic toast. Still, the emotional payoff is solid enough to make you forgive it.
At 3.5 stars, Otherwise Engaged delivers mother-daughter drama with a generous side of “who even am I?” chaos. It’s funny, it’s raw, it’s occasionally a little much... like every family gathering ever. And I mean that with love.
Huge thanks to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the early access to the audiobook of Otherwise Engaged. It was a total rollercoaster of mother-daughter meltdowns, wedding planning chaos, and secrets with emotional teeth. Tanya Eby’s narration made every sharp turn hit even harder. Appreciate the chance to spiral early with these characters in my ears.
October 31, 2025
Shannon and her mom, Cindy, have a close relationship, sometimes too close. Cindy is planning her wedding and hinting that she would love to have a double wedding with Shannon. That's the last thing Shannon wants, so had kept it secret that she is engaged. While out looking at a venue, they see a woman and her daughter that startles Cindy. Victoria and her mother Ava have a love/hate relationship. There seems to be something missing between them and Victoria loves to aggravate her mother. There is a huge secret, the fact that when Cindy was only 17, and pregnant with Shannon, she had agreed to give her child up for adoption and Ava and her husband were going to be the recipients. They developed a wonderful relationship, almost like sisters, but when Cindy gave birth, she changed her mind. Ava and her husband ended up adopting Victoria instead. Ava had a difficult time connecting with Victoria as she was heartbroken over losing Cindy's baby. Now twenty-four years later, the girls hear about this for the first time. They both react differently, as do Shannon and Ava. Will this cause their relationships to sour even more? Can Victoria and Shannon become friends? What other lives will be affected by this disclosure?
Sometimes I wonder how authors come up with ideas for their books. I can't imagine this scenario, but I'm sure it is more realistic than I think. I really liked Shannon and Cindy. They had a good relationship and were smart, hardworking and kind. Cindy was trying to find herself, and her mother wasn't helping. Sometimes being too encouraging and helpful, has the opposite effect. She has a loving fiancé and he loves working with her. Will she realize that that is the path she could take and enjoy it? Victoria, on the other hand, was hard to like. She was extremely prickly and not very happy. As we learn about her past, there are reasons there, but it was hard to connect with her. She was always trying to make her mother proud, but eventually just gave up, and became a bit of a rebel. Her father, on the other hand, was absolutely delightful and tried hard to make things up to her. Ava was a spoiled, distant woman. Maybe she was raised that way, but again, it was hard to connect to her. Although she tried to assure Victoria that she loved it, it was always perceived as insincere. The secondary characters in this story really propped it up for me. They were great, caring, supportive, added some humour and were very realistic. The storyline was very interesting and I wondered if the young woman would have a relationship, or go their separate ways. Would Ava and Cindy be able to rekindle the friendship they has twenty-four years ago? This was an extremely interesting plot and I was anxious to see how it would all play out. I enjoyed this one, but wish I had been able to connect to Ava and Victoria more. I did a read/listen with Otherwise Engaged narrated by Tanya Eby. I enjoyed her performance, but found the voices of the 4 main characters were not differentiated as much as I would like. If you enjoy a good story of female drama, family relationships. and a little romance, then pick this one up in whichever format you prefer.
Sometimes I wonder how authors come up with ideas for their books. I can't imagine this scenario, but I'm sure it is more realistic than I think. I really liked Shannon and Cindy. They had a good relationship and were smart, hardworking and kind. Cindy was trying to find herself, and her mother wasn't helping. Sometimes being too encouraging and helpful, has the opposite effect. She has a loving fiancé and he loves working with her. Will she realize that that is the path she could take and enjoy it? Victoria, on the other hand, was hard to like. She was extremely prickly and not very happy. As we learn about her past, there are reasons there, but it was hard to connect with her. She was always trying to make her mother proud, but eventually just gave up, and became a bit of a rebel. Her father, on the other hand, was absolutely delightful and tried hard to make things up to her. Ava was a spoiled, distant woman. Maybe she was raised that way, but again, it was hard to connect to her. Although she tried to assure Victoria that she loved it, it was always perceived as insincere. The secondary characters in this story really propped it up for me. They were great, caring, supportive, added some humour and were very realistic. The storyline was very interesting and I wondered if the young woman would have a relationship, or go their separate ways. Would Ava and Cindy be able to rekindle the friendship they has twenty-four years ago? This was an extremely interesting plot and I was anxious to see how it would all play out. I enjoyed this one, but wish I had been able to connect to Ava and Victoria more. I did a read/listen with Otherwise Engaged narrated by Tanya Eby. I enjoyed her performance, but found the voices of the 4 main characters were not differentiated as much as I would like. If you enjoy a good story of female drama, family relationships. and a little romance, then pick this one up in whichever format you prefer.
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