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California Girls
The California sunshine’s not quite so bright for three sisters who get dumped in the same week…
Finola, a popular LA morning-show host, is famously upbeat until she’s blindsided on live TV by the news that her husband is sleeping with a young pop sensation who has set their affair to music. While avoiding the tabloids and pretending she’s just fine, she’s crumbling inside, desperate for him to come to his senses and for life to go back to normal.
Zennie’s breakup is no big loss. Although the world insists she pair up, she’d rather be surfing. So agreeing to be the surrogate for her best friend is a no-brainer—after all, she has an available womb and no other attachments to worry about. Except…when everyone else, including her big sister, thinks she’s making a huge mistake, being pregnant is a lot lonelier—and more complicated—than she imagined.
Never the tallest, thinnest or prettiest sister, Ali is used to being overlooked, but when her fiancé sends his disapproving brother to call off the wedding, it’s a new low. And yet Daniel continues to turn up “for support,” making Ali wonder if maybe—for once—someone sees her in a way no one ever has.
But side by side by side, these sisters will start over and rebuild their lives with all the affection, charm and laugh-out-loud humor that is classic Susan Mallery.
Don't miss The Happiness Plan, a new novel coming from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery where three women experience hope, heartache, and the power of friendship as they search for true happiness!
Finola, a popular LA morning-show host, is famously upbeat until she’s blindsided on live TV by the news that her husband is sleeping with a young pop sensation who has set their affair to music. While avoiding the tabloids and pretending she’s just fine, she’s crumbling inside, desperate for him to come to his senses and for life to go back to normal.
Zennie’s breakup is no big loss. Although the world insists she pair up, she’d rather be surfing. So agreeing to be the surrogate for her best friend is a no-brainer—after all, she has an available womb and no other attachments to worry about. Except…when everyone else, including her big sister, thinks she’s making a huge mistake, being pregnant is a lot lonelier—and more complicated—than she imagined.
Never the tallest, thinnest or prettiest sister, Ali is used to being overlooked, but when her fiancé sends his disapproving brother to call off the wedding, it’s a new low. And yet Daniel continues to turn up “for support,” making Ali wonder if maybe—for once—someone sees her in a way no one ever has.
But side by side by side, these sisters will start over and rebuild their lives with all the affection, charm and laugh-out-loud humor that is classic Susan Mallery.
Don't miss The Happiness Plan, a new novel coming from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery where three women experience hope, heartache, and the power of friendship as they search for true happiness!
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2019
3544 people are currently reading
7744 people want to read
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 1,436 reviews
March 1, 2019
Favorite Quotes:
Finola, we have models in the building. Tall, skinny, hungry models. They’re starting to look feral and turn on each other. I’m convinced it’s the smell of bacon.
… she alternated between trying to figure out a plan to win Nigel back and wondering if she could find a few anthrax spores to send him in the mail.
Finola told herself they weren’t deliberately cruel, they were just young and thoughtless. At least she hoped they were because otherwise the next generation was going to be a disappointment.
My Review:
I fell into this irresistible story and didn’t want to come back out. Susan Mallery has extraordinarily strong word voodoo. I was fully invested and right beside them or sitting in a corner watching as they bantered and argued. The storylines were deftly written and cleverly crafted with ample servings of levity and curiously addictive conundrums. Each character was uniquely compelling and so enticingly well drawn I could easily identify them in a police line-up. The mother was heinously shallow and possessed all the warmth and nurture of a rattlesnake and whose self-involvement was second only to her eldest daughter, Finola, who was a complete narcissist, although Finola had the wittiest quips of anyone. I adored Ali and Zennie, although my favorite character was the sweet and thoughtful Daniel and was totally besotted with him by the end of the book. Sigh, I want to clear off my TBR and only read Susan Mallery stories for the rest of my life.
Finola, we have models in the building. Tall, skinny, hungry models. They’re starting to look feral and turn on each other. I’m convinced it’s the smell of bacon.
… she alternated between trying to figure out a plan to win Nigel back and wondering if she could find a few anthrax spores to send him in the mail.
Finola told herself they weren’t deliberately cruel, they were just young and thoughtless. At least she hoped they were because otherwise the next generation was going to be a disappointment.
My Review:
I fell into this irresistible story and didn’t want to come back out. Susan Mallery has extraordinarily strong word voodoo. I was fully invested and right beside them or sitting in a corner watching as they bantered and argued. The storylines were deftly written and cleverly crafted with ample servings of levity and curiously addictive conundrums. Each character was uniquely compelling and so enticingly well drawn I could easily identify them in a police line-up. The mother was heinously shallow and possessed all the warmth and nurture of a rattlesnake and whose self-involvement was second only to her eldest daughter, Finola, who was a complete narcissist, although Finola had the wittiest quips of anyone. I adored Ali and Zennie, although my favorite character was the sweet and thoughtful Daniel and was totally besotted with him by the end of the book. Sigh, I want to clear off my TBR and only read Susan Mallery stories for the rest of my life.
February 28, 2019
Sunshine, Sisters, and second chances!
A fabulous story filled with fun and drama. Susan Mallery has crafted a brilliant story that will make you laugh, cry, and want to throw things! Three very different sisters faced with some major life choices, but side by side by side they can get through anything! Whenever I read a book about sisters I always get a little jealous, it is a relationship that I myself don’t have, but I can still experience it through books.
This book begins with one bad weekend, all three of the sisters get dumped. Finola hosts a television morning show. Her husband informs her right before she’s about to go on air that he is having an affair, now that’s some timing right? What a great guy! Ali is consumed with planning her wedding that is until her fiancé‘s brother shows up to let her know that her fiancé is too much of a wuss to tell her he’s calling off the wedding. Another great guy! Zennie Who is pretty content being single is dumped by a guy she just recently started dating. His reason? He realizes that she’s not all that into him and she isn’t really looking for a relationship. OK fair enough, he actually might be a good guy. After this weekend the sisters are left to pick up the pieces of their lives and are also face with some unusual unique and life altering choices.
The story was told with charm and heart, and I really loved the humor sprinkled throughout. The serious subject matter of infidelity and surrogacy was handled with a compassionate yet realistic hand. The sisters were all very likable, very relatable, and at times very frustrating. I loved the sister bond as well as the relationship the girls had with their mother. Ali was probably my favorite sister and I was so invested in her happily ever after. I am a sucker for a good second chance story and this one was fab! Definitely recommend!
🎧🎧🎧 Tanya Ebi, did a wonderful job with the narration she gave each sister their own unique voice. She also did a really good male voice, seriously there were times I forgot it was a woman speaking. Another fabulous audiobook experience!
🎵🎵🎵 Song Running Through My Head
Greetings loved ones
Let's take a journey
I know a place
Where the grass is really greener
Warm, wet n' wild
There must be something in the water
Sippin' gin and juice
Laying underneath the palm trees
(Undone)
The boys
Break their necks
Try'na to creep a little sneak peek
(At us)
You could travel the world
But nothing comes close
To the golden coast
Once you party with us
You'll be falling in love
Ooh oh ooh oh oh ooh
California girls
We're unforgettable
Daisy dukes
Bikinis on top
Sun-kissed skin
So hot
We'll melt your popsicle
Ooh oh ooh
Ooh oh ooh
California girls
We're undeniable
Fine, fresh, fierce
We got it on lock
West coast represent
Now put your hands up... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F57P9C4...
*** many thanks to Harlequin Books and Harper Audio for my copies of this book ***
A fabulous story filled with fun and drama. Susan Mallery has crafted a brilliant story that will make you laugh, cry, and want to throw things! Three very different sisters faced with some major life choices, but side by side by side they can get through anything! Whenever I read a book about sisters I always get a little jealous, it is a relationship that I myself don’t have, but I can still experience it through books.
This book begins with one bad weekend, all three of the sisters get dumped. Finola hosts a television morning show. Her husband informs her right before she’s about to go on air that he is having an affair, now that’s some timing right? What a great guy! Ali is consumed with planning her wedding that is until her fiancé‘s brother shows up to let her know that her fiancé is too much of a wuss to tell her he’s calling off the wedding. Another great guy! Zennie Who is pretty content being single is dumped by a guy she just recently started dating. His reason? He realizes that she’s not all that into him and she isn’t really looking for a relationship. OK fair enough, he actually might be a good guy. After this weekend the sisters are left to pick up the pieces of their lives and are also face with some unusual unique and life altering choices.
The story was told with charm and heart, and I really loved the humor sprinkled throughout. The serious subject matter of infidelity and surrogacy was handled with a compassionate yet realistic hand. The sisters were all very likable, very relatable, and at times very frustrating. I loved the sister bond as well as the relationship the girls had with their mother. Ali was probably my favorite sister and I was so invested in her happily ever after. I am a sucker for a good second chance story and this one was fab! Definitely recommend!
🎧🎧🎧 Tanya Ebi, did a wonderful job with the narration she gave each sister their own unique voice. She also did a really good male voice, seriously there were times I forgot it was a woman speaking. Another fabulous audiobook experience!
🎵🎵🎵 Song Running Through My Head
Greetings loved ones
Let's take a journey
I know a place
Where the grass is really greener
Warm, wet n' wild
There must be something in the water
Sippin' gin and juice
Laying underneath the palm trees
(Undone)
The boys
Break their necks
Try'na to creep a little sneak peek
(At us)
You could travel the world
But nothing comes close
To the golden coast
Once you party with us
You'll be falling in love
Ooh oh ooh oh oh ooh
California girls
We're unforgettable
Daisy dukes
Bikinis on top
Sun-kissed skin
So hot
We'll melt your popsicle
Ooh oh ooh
Ooh oh ooh
California girls
We're undeniable
Fine, fresh, fierce
We got it on lock
West coast represent
Now put your hands up... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F57P9C4...
*** many thanks to Harlequin Books and Harper Audio for my copies of this book ***
March 7, 2019
I received this book for free from TLC Book Tours as part of a review tour.
This was my first time reading a book by Susan Mallery and I enjoyed it.
This book was a classic chick lit novel.
I loved the dynamic between the sisters. That felt very real and organic. The sisters did have their differences but were still able to come together when it mattered.
I also loved how each of their stories were different. Even though they all had the commonality of getting dumped at the same time, they all went down different paths. I thought that was really important to show because everyone is different and deals with things in their own way.
The one thing I didn’t like was how some of the situations that the characters found themselves in weren’t that realistic. For example, the way Finola found out about her husband’s affair (her husband told her right before she went on air, plus the mistress was the pop star she had to interview, who also confronted her about the affair). But this is a chick lit novel so I can look past that. Part of the fun of reading chick lit is the over the top scenarios that happen.
Overall, this was a solid chick lit book perfect for reading while sunbathing in the warm California sun.
This was my first time reading a book by Susan Mallery and I enjoyed it.
This book was a classic chick lit novel.
I loved the dynamic between the sisters. That felt very real and organic. The sisters did have their differences but were still able to come together when it mattered.
I also loved how each of their stories were different. Even though they all had the commonality of getting dumped at the same time, they all went down different paths. I thought that was really important to show because everyone is different and deals with things in their own way.
The one thing I didn’t like was how some of the situations that the characters found themselves in weren’t that realistic. For example, the way Finola found out about her husband’s affair (her husband told her right before she went on air, plus the mistress was the pop star she had to interview, who also confronted her about the affair). But this is a chick lit novel so I can look past that. Part of the fun of reading chick lit is the over the top scenarios that happen.
Overall, this was a solid chick lit book perfect for reading while sunbathing in the warm California sun.
December 11, 2021
This is a Romance/Women's Fiction/Chick-Lit. I really enjoyed this book. It was about three sisters that their man in their lives leave them all on the same day. They find themselves and each other through out the book. The characters in the book where very developed. The mother of the three girls just wanted one of her girls to give her a grandchild. My favorite line in the book was one of the daughter said to the mother "Too bad you can’t order them off Amazon. You’re a Prime member. You could have one by Tuesday." Talking about getting a Grandchild off of Amazon.
March 12, 2019
Easy breezy, a great escape read.
Aw, what a premise. Three sisters get dumped in the same week. Finola, Zennie, and Ali could not have worse luck!
That said, one of the many perks of sisterhood is having friendship and trust and being able to lean on each other, and that’s just what these three do as they start over.
Finola is a host for a morning show when she finds out on live TV her husband is cheating on her with a much younger pop star. Regardless, Finola desperately wants her husband back if he’ll take her.
Zennie feels differently about her breakup. She’s fine surfing and having time to herself. She agrees to be a surrogate for her friend. But then she winds up pregnant and alone and wonders if she’s made a mistake?
Ali is the wallflower sister. The other two garner attention, but not Ali. Her fiancé sends his brother to call off their wedding, and Ali thinks she’s never been lower. But she has an admirer that keeps showing up…
California Girls is all about starting over. I loved these sisters even though at times they frustrated me with their choices. I felt the strong bond between the three women, and I loved how close they are with their mom as well. This book is well worth reading just to find out if all three get their happily ever after, especially Ali. My heart always went out to Ali.
Overall, California Girls is a fun, endearing story that warmed my heart and made me wish I had a sister.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Aw, what a premise. Three sisters get dumped in the same week. Finola, Zennie, and Ali could not have worse luck!
That said, one of the many perks of sisterhood is having friendship and trust and being able to lean on each other, and that’s just what these three do as they start over.
Finola is a host for a morning show when she finds out on live TV her husband is cheating on her with a much younger pop star. Regardless, Finola desperately wants her husband back if he’ll take her.
Zennie feels differently about her breakup. She’s fine surfing and having time to herself. She agrees to be a surrogate for her friend. But then she winds up pregnant and alone and wonders if she’s made a mistake?
Ali is the wallflower sister. The other two garner attention, but not Ali. Her fiancé sends his brother to call off their wedding, and Ali thinks she’s never been lower. But she has an admirer that keeps showing up…
California Girls is all about starting over. I loved these sisters even though at times they frustrated me with their choices. I felt the strong bond between the three women, and I loved how close they are with their mom as well. This book is well worth reading just to find out if all three get their happily ever after, especially Ali. My heart always went out to Ali.
Overall, California Girls is a fun, endearing story that warmed my heart and made me wish I had a sister.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
July 4, 2019
I wanted a quick chic-lit novel and dared to try a new and respected author. “California Girls” by Susan Mallory has an interesting premise: three sisters get dumped by their man at the same time. I liked the idea. Can’t say I’m impressed with how author Mallery wrote the story.
Yes, it’s a quick read. Yes, there is an overbearing mother who one wants to strangle. Yes, all three women find their strength in the end. Yet, I wasn’t really engaged with any of them. Maybe I’m more of a southern chic-lit lover. Those authors know how to involve a reader with relatable issues.
Take my rating with a grain of salt. I’m in the minority with my opinion, but I wished I had spent the last two days reading a Joshilyn Jackson, Diane Chamberlain, Elin Hilderbrand, or Emily Carpenter novel.
Yes, it’s a quick read. Yes, there is an overbearing mother who one wants to strangle. Yes, all three women find their strength in the end. Yet, I wasn’t really engaged with any of them. Maybe I’m more of a southern chic-lit lover. Those authors know how to involve a reader with relatable issues.
Take my rating with a grain of salt. I’m in the minority with my opinion, but I wished I had spent the last two days reading a Joshilyn Jackson, Diane Chamberlain, Elin Hilderbrand, or Emily Carpenter novel.
March 9, 2019
1) The parents are absolutely terrible. The father is so ridiculously absent it's not even funny. The mother gets better at the end but for most of the book she's pretty much a total asshole. Several of Zennie's friends are assholes too.
2) Ali's relationship with Daniel goes pretty fast. I think it would have been better without that ending. Daniel was also pretty bland. He was likable, a good guy after his jerk brother, but he didn't seem to have any negative traits whatsoever, and that makes for a boring character. I was honestly hoping to hear something negative about him. I would have even taken messiness. Instead he was an angel. Not bad, just not realistic.
I did appreciate Ali learning to see her worth, but I wish that wasn't because of Daniel.
3) Have you even seen/heard the musical The Last Five Years? I had the same complicated feelings on that as I do for Nigel and Finola's relationship. Sure, Finola wasn't perfect but should she really accept blame for her husband's cheating? If he was unhappy, why didn't he say something? If he wasn't getting what he wanted, why didn't he leave? I have such a hard time sympathizing with cheaters. I know the author's going for realistic and marriages are more complicated than that... but Nigel cheats on her with a younger woman known for getting with married men, blindsides her, and honestly handles her understandably bad reaction with poor grace, and I'm supposed to feel badly for him?
Although Finola accepts some blame--and possibly deserves some--none of the book is told from Nigel's point of view, so it's kind of hard for me to understand. This might have been a better plot if it was in its own book and had dual perspectives from both of them. I think that could make an interesting dramatic book. As it was, my disinclination to sympathize with cheaters and a lack of understanding on what made Nigel cheats pretty much cheapens this plot a little. The whole book is basically Finola learning that she's kind of selfish and needs to be better, but so much of her plot revolves her around feeling terrible after her husband leaves, so I'm a little torn on that.
4) People's reactions to Zennie being a surrogate for her friends were... off? Like I'm sure these are two totally realistic to have, but people were very rude about it. Look, Zennie is an adult. Lots of people are surrogates. Lots of people have babies for friends. Sometimes it doesn't work out. That doesn't mean you need to be rude about it. Also, it's already happened. Get over it.
5) I was really hoping Zennie would be asexual or aromantic. She seems set up to be like that, but in the end she ends up with someone anyway. Whatever, I'm still thinking she's demi or something, but the author really doesn't handle this well. Also, while I think her mother setting her up with a lesbian was supposed to be well-meaning, and I'm glad they became friends, this sort of thing is weirdly out of place in modern media. Zennie's ex asks her if she's a lesbian in kind of an offensive way (to me), and her mother assumes she must be a lesbian because she's not in a long-time relationship. Zennie can't be one with herself apparently; there has to be something "wrong" with her. It's kind of a messy plot line and I hated it and it did knock down my enjoyment some.
2) Ali's relationship with Daniel goes pretty fast. I think it would have been better without that ending. Daniel was also pretty bland. He was likable, a good guy after his jerk brother, but he didn't seem to have any negative traits whatsoever, and that makes for a boring character. I was honestly hoping to hear something negative about him. I would have even taken messiness. Instead he was an angel. Not bad, just not realistic.
I did appreciate Ali learning to see her worth, but I wish that wasn't because of Daniel.
3) Have you even seen/heard the musical The Last Five Years? I had the same complicated feelings on that as I do for Nigel and Finola's relationship. Sure, Finola wasn't perfect but should she really accept blame for her husband's cheating? If he was unhappy, why didn't he say something? If he wasn't getting what he wanted, why didn't he leave? I have such a hard time sympathizing with cheaters. I know the author's going for realistic and marriages are more complicated than that... but Nigel cheats on her with a younger woman known for getting with married men, blindsides her, and honestly handles her understandably bad reaction with poor grace, and I'm supposed to feel badly for him?
Although Finola accepts some blame--and possibly deserves some--none of the book is told from Nigel's point of view, so it's kind of hard for me to understand. This might have been a better plot if it was in its own book and had dual perspectives from both of them. I think that could make an interesting dramatic book. As it was, my disinclination to sympathize with cheaters and a lack of understanding on what made Nigel cheats pretty much cheapens this plot a little. The whole book is basically Finola learning that she's kind of selfish and needs to be better, but so much of her plot revolves her around feeling terrible after her husband leaves, so I'm a little torn on that.
4) People's reactions to Zennie being a surrogate for her friends were... off? Like I'm sure these are two totally realistic to have, but people were very rude about it. Look, Zennie is an adult. Lots of people are surrogates. Lots of people have babies for friends. Sometimes it doesn't work out. That doesn't mean you need to be rude about it. Also, it's already happened. Get over it.
5) I was really hoping Zennie would be asexual or aromantic. She seems set up to be like that, but in the end she ends up with someone anyway. Whatever, I'm still thinking she's demi or something, but the author really doesn't handle this well. Also, while I think her mother setting her up with a lesbian was supposed to be well-meaning, and I'm glad they became friends, this sort of thing is weirdly out of place in modern media. Zennie's ex asks her if she's a lesbian in kind of an offensive way (to me), and her mother assumes she must be a lesbian because she's not in a long-time relationship. Zennie can't be one with herself apparently; there has to be something "wrong" with her. It's kind of a messy plot line and I hated it and it did knock down my enjoyment some.
April 24, 2019
I enjoyed this book so much. I read it in one sitting. This is a book that takes you away and you are going to fall in love with the three sisters. I loved the ending and was so happy to have read this book.
I gave it five stars two times. I HIGHLY recommend it!
I gave it five stars two times. I HIGHLY recommend it!
March 7, 2019
Thank you to the publisher for this copy in exchange for my honest review!
This was the first book I read by Susan Mallery and now I'm so glad I had the chance to, because I really enjoyed this book. It's about 3 sisters come together after, ironically, being dumped in the same week. I love how they came together to help eachother overcome their heartbreaks! This book had lots of drama, and laughs! It made you mad for them at times. Such a fun chick lit book! I will definitely be reading more by Susan Mallery!!
This was the first book I read by Susan Mallery and now I'm so glad I had the chance to, because I really enjoyed this book. It's about 3 sisters come together after, ironically, being dumped in the same week. I love how they came together to help eachother overcome their heartbreaks! This book had lots of drama, and laughs! It made you mad for them at times. Such a fun chick lit book! I will definitely be reading more by Susan Mallery!!
March 17, 2019
California Girls
Susan Mallery
Holy cow, CALIFORNIA GIRLS is one crazy story! Three sisters all get dumped in the same week and to say they are devastated is a huge understatement! I have two sisters so I totally understood some of the feelings they had. Finola is a tv host for a morning show in Los Angeles. Zennie is a surgical nurse and Ali works for an auto parts warehouse. These three sisters couldn't be more different but they are about to find out just how strong their sister bond is. Their mother, Mary Jo has been after all three daughters to give her grand babies and needless to say, she isnt happy with the latest turn of events.
CALIFORNIA GIRLS is exactly why I love Susan Mallery's books. She had me sad on one page and giggling out loud on the next. This story is all about family and the past and the life lessons are heart tugging. It had me flipping through the pages like a woman on a mission. I had to know what was going to happen to these three sisters and all the secondary characters. CALIFORNIA GIRLS is a perfect story that will hold you hostage until the very last page. Once you start reading, it will be very hard to put down! You also won't be able to stop yourself from laughing at Daniel and the way he won't leave Ali alone!
In CALIFORNIA GIRLS, all of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I've known them for a long time. I would love to hang out with these sisters. I'm sure they could teach me a thing or two and I know they would keep my laughing all day long! I love how Susan Mallery does that to me each and every time. She has me longing to find friends just like her characters. There is so much heart in Susan's writing that I was left with a huge smile on my face and my heart very happy. Susan Mallery is the queen of writing heartfelt stories about sisters and family drama. If you are looking for a quick, funny, feel good story, you can't go wrong with CALIFORNIA GIRLS!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Susan Mallery
Holy cow, CALIFORNIA GIRLS is one crazy story! Three sisters all get dumped in the same week and to say they are devastated is a huge understatement! I have two sisters so I totally understood some of the feelings they had. Finola is a tv host for a morning show in Los Angeles. Zennie is a surgical nurse and Ali works for an auto parts warehouse. These three sisters couldn't be more different but they are about to find out just how strong their sister bond is. Their mother, Mary Jo has been after all three daughters to give her grand babies and needless to say, she isnt happy with the latest turn of events.
CALIFORNIA GIRLS is exactly why I love Susan Mallery's books. She had me sad on one page and giggling out loud on the next. This story is all about family and the past and the life lessons are heart tugging. It had me flipping through the pages like a woman on a mission. I had to know what was going to happen to these three sisters and all the secondary characters. CALIFORNIA GIRLS is a perfect story that will hold you hostage until the very last page. Once you start reading, it will be very hard to put down! You also won't be able to stop yourself from laughing at Daniel and the way he won't leave Ali alone!
In CALIFORNIA GIRLS, all of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I've known them for a long time. I would love to hang out with these sisters. I'm sure they could teach me a thing or two and I know they would keep my laughing all day long! I love how Susan Mallery does that to me each and every time. She has me longing to find friends just like her characters. There is so much heart in Susan's writing that I was left with a huge smile on my face and my heart very happy. Susan Mallery is the queen of writing heartfelt stories about sisters and family drama. If you are looking for a quick, funny, feel good story, you can't go wrong with CALIFORNIA GIRLS!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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October 7, 2020Brief review to come!
December 8, 2018
Starting over isn't easy, even when it's the right thing to do.
This is Susan Mallery doing what she does best: combining romance and chick lit with all the feelings and lessons about love, loss, heartbreak, moving on, and learning and ultimately coming out of the worst moments of your life a stronger person.
This book tells the story of three sisters, who couldn't be more different, all experiencing a painful breakup at the same time, each of them learning a different lesson: Ali's fiancé doesn't even have the guts to break off their engagement weeks before the wedding and sends his brother to do his dirty work instead, Zennie is shocked when she has literally no feelings about her boyfriend breaking up with her and throws herself into a very new, non-romantic situation, and Finola's husband informs her, minutes before she has to be on live TV, that he has been having an affair and is leaving her. While they all learn different things about themselves during the painful months that follow, they realize they have all lost sight of what is truly important, and grow stronger.
I loved watching the sisters realize uncomfortable truths and growing because of that, how they each learned to let things go and ultimately found themselves again. It was a lovely story about three totally different women, each remarkable in their own way, and I cheered so hard when they all stood up for what they wanted! I can't believe it took me this long to pick up a Susan Mallery book again. I forgot how warm, heartfelt, and amazing her books are!
Definitely recommended to anyone who likes complex stories about families, loss, and moving on!
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This is Susan Mallery doing what she does best: combining romance and chick lit with all the feelings and lessons about love, loss, heartbreak, moving on, and learning and ultimately coming out of the worst moments of your life a stronger person.
This book tells the story of three sisters, who couldn't be more different, all experiencing a painful breakup at the same time, each of them learning a different lesson: Ali's fiancé doesn't even have the guts to break off their engagement weeks before the wedding and sends his brother to do his dirty work instead, Zennie is shocked when she has literally no feelings about her boyfriend breaking up with her and throws herself into a very new, non-romantic situation, and Finola's husband informs her, minutes before she has to be on live TV, that he has been having an affair and is leaving her. While they all learn different things about themselves during the painful months that follow, they realize they have all lost sight of what is truly important, and grow stronger.
I loved watching the sisters realize uncomfortable truths and growing because of that, how they each learned to let things go and ultimately found themselves again. It was a lovely story about three totally different women, each remarkable in their own way, and I cheered so hard when they all stood up for what they wanted! I can't believe it took me this long to pick up a Susan Mallery book again. I forgot how warm, heartfelt, and amazing her books are!
Definitely recommended to anyone who likes complex stories about families, loss, and moving on!
*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
May 5, 2019
I usually enjoy Susan Mallery for a quick, light read. This one, not at all. I abhorred every since character- except Clark and maybe Daniel. (and WTF is up with the names in this book!!) The girls' mother worst of all. Finola is just a self-centered bitch. Ali- "I didn't go to college because I'm the baby and there wasn't enough money for me to go, too"- every heard of a loan? You know, how most people go to college? And Zennie, if I heard "I was no one's favorite" one more time, I was going to scream. The entire book was about them all needing men to survive, basically, fueled by their mother who threw temper tantrums because she wanted grandkids and she wanted them now. Ugh.
Skip this one. It sent women back 100 years.
Skip this one. It sent women back 100 years.
August 4, 2019
3-1/2 stars; its sweetness and warmth gets it rounded up
Three sisters find themselves suddenly single in one week. Can they support each other, and take care of themselves, at the same time?
This was a charming, heartwarming book about generally complicated life. There are plenty of layers about family issues, self image (when one character thinks of herself as "just a boring blonde" I laughed; but I know every one thinks of themself as just a boring something), big decisions, and yes, losing love and finding it again, maybe where one least expects it. I like Susan Mallery's insights into people and her compassion towards her characters even as she makes them own their actions and mistakes. I also really liked that one character did not get a neatly-wrapped-up-in-a-bow ending. I did find the mother in this family to be a bit of a caricature, but she was the only weakness in the story for me.
I need to remember to read more of these cheerful, feel-good books to break up all this grim-dark I keep gravitating towards.
Three sisters find themselves suddenly single in one week. Can they support each other, and take care of themselves, at the same time?
This was a charming, heartwarming book about generally complicated life. There are plenty of layers about family issues, self image (when one character thinks of herself as "just a boring blonde" I laughed; but I know every one thinks of themself as just a boring something), big decisions, and yes, losing love and finding it again, maybe where one least expects it. I like Susan Mallery's insights into people and her compassion towards her characters even as she makes them own their actions and mistakes. I also really liked that one character did not get a neatly-wrapped-up-in-a-bow ending. I did find the mother in this family to be a bit of a caricature, but she was the only weakness in the story for me.
I need to remember to read more of these cheerful, feel-good books to break up all this grim-dark I keep gravitating towards.
May 17, 2019
This was a good book but it didn't completely work for me. I really loved one of the sister's stories but the other two never really came together for me (Ali worked for me and the others were fine but didn't grab me like Ali's did). It's not that it's not worth reading - it is a solid read but it's difficult for me to give more than 3 stars with 2/3 of the story line didn't grab me. I kind of wished the entire book had been about Ali's story with her sister's stories taking a smaller focus of the book. I still recommend it especially for a day by the pool or on the beach.
NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book free for an honest review.
NOTE: Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book free for an honest review.
July 19, 2019
I love a Susan Mallery book. They are always uplifting and cheery. You have people to root for and people to boo. Real problems happen to real people.
In this novel, we have 3 sisters who are all dumped at the same time. Each one has a different predicament, but the same one too. The sisters learn who are their friends and who aren't. They also learn to trust each other (and their nagging mother) and find new people to love.
A fun book.
In this novel, we have 3 sisters who are all dumped at the same time. Each one has a different predicament, but the same one too. The sisters learn who are their friends and who aren't. They also learn to trust each other (and their nagging mother) and find new people to love.
A fun book.
February 18, 2019
In this emotionally charged new read by author Susan Mallery we meet three sisters who all seem to be going through a difficult time, at the same time. Finola, the oldest, learns that her husband is cheating on her with a famous singer who happens to be a guest on her tv show the day she finds out. Zennie gets broken up with but for her she just wasn't into it anyway, she thinks that she is her best self alone and not in a relationship. She's happy with the way things are so when her best friend, who can't have children, asks her to not only be her surrogate but also the egg donor, she thinks no problem. Then there is Ali, the youngest of the three whose fiance dumps her a couple of months before their wedding. How does he do it you ask? He lets his brother tell her because otherwise he was just going to leave her standing at the alter alone and confused. Follow along in this emotional read as these three women all work through the happenings in their lives. Will Finola be able to get over the betrayal of her husband, will they end up back together or will she move on without him? Will having a baby for her best friend but in reality is really hers become an issue for Zennie or will she be selfless enough to give her friends the gift of a child? Can Ali learn to be a stronger person and stand up for herself or will she turn to food like she has in the past? This was a wonderful read that truly touched on the relationships between sisters and the one they have with their mother. I laughed throughout and I cried throughout and in the end I was happy with each road that the sisters took. It was a fantastic read that shows the situations that a family can go through and how they deal with each problem. I look forward to seeing what Mallery brings to life next.
I received an ARC of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received an ARC of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 29, 2019
One of the greatest joys of reading is the ability to escape to a different locale. In the midst of a cold Minnesota winter, escaping to California with sisters Finola, Zennie, and Ali was an absolute delight!
☀️ ☀️☀️
Three sisters, all dealing with various dramas in their life. Morning show host Finola is blindsided on national TV when she finds out her husband has been having an affair. Zennie is content with her small life so her breakup is no big deal...until she’s presented with the opportunity to be a surrogate for her best friend. And then there’s poor Ali...her fiancée calls off her wedding a month before but refuses to do it himself and sends his brother to break up with her instead. These sisters deal with life changing events, leaning on each other and finding that maybe these endings are just new beginnings. I loved this story and was completely invested in the characters. This was wonderfully written and a fabulous representation of a sisterly bond. For me, California Girls was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Thank you @harlequinbooks for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.
☀️ ☀️☀️
Three sisters, all dealing with various dramas in their life. Morning show host Finola is blindsided on national TV when she finds out her husband has been having an affair. Zennie is content with her small life so her breakup is no big deal...until she’s presented with the opportunity to be a surrogate for her best friend. And then there’s poor Ali...her fiancée calls off her wedding a month before but refuses to do it himself and sends his brother to break up with her instead. These sisters deal with life changing events, leaning on each other and finding that maybe these endings are just new beginnings. I loved this story and was completely invested in the characters. This was wonderfully written and a fabulous representation of a sisterly bond. For me, California Girls was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Thank you @harlequinbooks for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.
August 21, 2020
Great light story. Sort of a beach read. Three sisters’ lives are blown up in one week and the rest of the story is about putting lives back together.
Good characters usually make good plot lines and that is true of this boo.
Good characters usually make good plot lines and that is true of this boo.
June 10, 2020
It only takes one week for Finola's picture perfect marriage to implode, for Zennie's maybe to dump her, and for Ali's fiance to send his brother to do his dirty work. One week, three sisters, three relationships. Like all sisters, there is love and there is competition and there are hard feelings from their unconventional upbringing with their highly disapproving mother. Forced to face their own issues, the sisters discover that to start over they first have to work together.
Filled with love, laughter, and heart, California Girls was the Susan Mallery read I didn't know I needed. It's women's fiction at it's best, with the three sisters uncovering their identities and learning how to be sisters again. It's about facing the past, facing the now, and making futures that rely on them finally standing on their own two feet. It's a bit heart-wrenching I admit, I cried a lot, especially with Ali's chapters, but it's also so heart warming. I love a good family story and this is the sort of romantic family story that I want to reread over and over.
ARC provided.
Filled with love, laughter, and heart, California Girls was the Susan Mallery read I didn't know I needed. It's women's fiction at it's best, with the three sisters uncovering their identities and learning how to be sisters again. It's about facing the past, facing the now, and making futures that rely on them finally standing on their own two feet. It's a bit heart-wrenching I admit, I cried a lot, especially with Ali's chapters, but it's also so heart warming. I love a good family story and this is the sort of romantic family story that I want to reread over and over.
ARC provided.
January 20, 2019
Kudos to Susan Mallery!
This book is amazing, it is about three sisters who all have relationship breakups on the same day. The end for them is the beginning of self-discovery and finding out who they truly are.
It is a must read!
This book is amazing, it is about three sisters who all have relationship breakups on the same day. The end for them is the beginning of self-discovery and finding out who they truly are.
It is a must read!
August 14, 2019
If I had wanted to put my name on such a piece of trash I would have signed Donald Trump's forehead. Susan Mallery decided to write this instead.
June 3, 2020
I'm not sure why I persevered through this. I don't even really know what to say besides it had a few cute moments, but was mostly horrific drivel that was fat shaming and women-hating.
March 16, 2019
This is the story of 3 sisters who all get dumped on the same day.
Ali was my favorite of the sisters. She gets dumped 2 months before her wedding and her fiance does not even do it himself. The more I heard of him I was all, you should have dumped him long ago.
And his brother Daniel, omg, what a man! He was everything her sucky fiance should have been. So yes obvi something will start to grow there
Finola was somewhat cold. She was just so career oriented. Of course that did not give her husband the right to cheat, talk people! I also feel that she clung to his memory too long.
Zennie, well I do understand why her family and friends felt like she rushed into things. I felt like she rushed into things. Her friends wanted a baby, she said yes to being their surrogate. But even though it was her egg she never thought more of it. I mean that is your baby! That is not their baby, that is half their baby and half yours! Yes, awesome thing to do, but still your baby.
They all deal with their own things as the story progresses, and with their mum getting rid of their old place.
It was a more, oh I can not find the right word, not slow, just peaceful (still not the right word). The only real drama being when Finola found out the truth.
But a good book
Narrator
I felt she did justice to all the sisters. They had their own voices. She got the mood of the book too
Ali was my favorite of the sisters. She gets dumped 2 months before her wedding and her fiance does not even do it himself. The more I heard of him I was all, you should have dumped him long ago.
And his brother Daniel, omg, what a man! He was everything her sucky fiance should have been. So yes obvi something will start to grow there
Finola was somewhat cold. She was just so career oriented. Of course that did not give her husband the right to cheat, talk people! I also feel that she clung to his memory too long.
Zennie, well I do understand why her family and friends felt like she rushed into things. I felt like she rushed into things. Her friends wanted a baby, she said yes to being their surrogate. But even though it was her egg she never thought more of it. I mean that is your baby! That is not their baby, that is half their baby and half yours! Yes, awesome thing to do, but still your baby.
They all deal with their own things as the story progresses, and with their mum getting rid of their old place.
It was a more, oh I can not find the right word, not slow, just peaceful (still not the right word). The only real drama being when Finola found out the truth.
But a good book
Narrator
I felt she did justice to all the sisters. They had their own voices. She got the mood of the book too
September 16, 2022
Geen wolkje aan de lucht ~ Susan Mallery
Harlequin Boeken, ⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
Heerlijk hap-slik-weg boekje, met de nodige diepgang en gevoelige onderwerpen. Een mooi verhaal over 3 compleet verschillende zussen die allemaal tegelijk vrijgezel worden, en daar ieder op hun eigen manier mee omgaan. Dit was mijn eerste kennismaking met Susan Mallery, en ik ben blij dat ik nog veel meer boeken van haar in mijn kast heb staan om te lezen. Een echte aanrader voor wie houdt van Sarah Morgen met een vleugje Jill Mansell.
Harlequin Boeken, ⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆
Heerlijk hap-slik-weg boekje, met de nodige diepgang en gevoelige onderwerpen. Een mooi verhaal over 3 compleet verschillende zussen die allemaal tegelijk vrijgezel worden, en daar ieder op hun eigen manier mee omgaan. Dit was mijn eerste kennismaking met Susan Mallery, en ik ben blij dat ik nog veel meer boeken van haar in mijn kast heb staan om te lezen. Een echte aanrader voor wie houdt van Sarah Morgen met een vleugje Jill Mansell.
April 7, 2019
Susan Mallery has done it again by giving us another fantastic novel!
CALIFORNIA GIRLS is a touching story about 3 sisters whose lives get turned upside down one by one. Follow them each on their own journey of love, loss, and finding out who they really are inside.
I truly loved reading this story and couldn't put it down... Highly Recommended!
*Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin-Mira for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
CALIFORNIA GIRLS is a touching story about 3 sisters whose lives get turned upside down one by one. Follow them each on their own journey of love, loss, and finding out who they really are inside.
I truly loved reading this story and couldn't put it down... Highly Recommended!
*Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin-Mira for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2019
I hated every single one of these characters. Shallow, self-serving, and some were just downright nasty! The plot was obvious from miles away, and even though it's supposed to be a cutsey read, it was just annoying.
October 19, 2019
California Girls by Susan Mallery does one of my absolute favorite things: tells the story of women at a crossroads, having to make huge life decisions. This is the story of three sisters that are dumped at basically the same time-like on the same day-and how they all three cope with the loss of those relationships. Very few authors write relationships as well as Susan Mallery does, so I was thrilled to read this book, especially since it highlighted a set of sisters.
Finola is a famous local news journalist that finds out her husband is having an affair with a famous country-pop star--on live television! Zennie is perfectly content on her own, going out and being active with her circle of friends, so when she loses her romantic relationship it isn't that big of a deal to her...until she decides to become a surrogate for her best friend and discovers how lonely pregnancy can be. Ali's fiance waits until the wedding invitations have been sent to send his brother to break off the engagement, devastating Ali and leaving her to cancel their wedding plans on her own. On top of all of this mess, the three sisters have agreed to help their mother go through their childhood home and clean out a lifetime of stuff so the house can be sold. Oh, and their mother is nagging them to hurry up and give her grandchildren as soon as possible.
These gals are all having a tough time, so it would stand to reason that they would lean on one another. However, it is super easy to observe some jealousy among them from where mom had a favorite daughter and dad had a favorite daughter and one daughter felt sort of left out. Also, all three have this thing where they don't want to burden the other two with their own problems, so they keep their issues close. It makes for interesting conversations when the three of them are together. BUT I HAVE TO SAY: Their relationships feel very real to me, and some of my experiences with my own sisters (there are three of us) have been very much the same. So I loved reading about the way these three communicated. There is a little bit of friction here and there, but there is also loyalty and love.
As far as the three sisters all having to make huge decisions-these decisions are all a result of where these big break-ups have left them. Each one has to figure out how best to move on to the next chapter of her life. I love love love these types of stories because as women, we are always having to make decisions that affect not only us, but our families and the people that depend on us, right? So I'm always curious to see how other women respond to whatever pressures are put on them. Out of the three sisters, I have to say that I for sure would not have made the same choice that one did; I may not have made the choice that another one did; and I absolutely love the choice that another one did and I probably would have done the exact same thing. You'll have to read to see what they all ended up doing. (:
One of my favorite things about this story is the way that Susan Mallery presents all of the different types of relationships. I've already mentioned that the sister relationship felt real to me, but I also loved the friction and realness of the mother-daughter relationships. Their mother absolutely got on their nerves with her nagging, but it was clear that they loved her tremendously. Also in Zennie's POV, it is interesting to note the levels of support she received from her friends and different family members regarding her choice to become a surrogate for her best friend. Of course, when friends and family disagree with our choices, it can cause tension in our relationships. But I loved that not every single person was 100% happy that she made this choice-I'm not sure that everyone would be on-board automatically in real life either, at least without posing some very real questions. Lots of complexity in the friends and family relationships and I appreciate that.
My favorite POV by far is Ali's. Even though it is a bit heartbreaking in the beginning, I love where it went over the course of the story. LOVE.
So this is another great story by the fabulous Susan Mallery. She is so consistent in producing quality stories that I love. I know that when I choose to read one of her books-new or backlist-I'm pretty much going to enjoy it at the least/love it at the most. She's one of my go-to authors for vacation reads or something when I'm feeling stressed or just anytime I want something that I know will make me happy. And like every other time, I'm already excited for her next book.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, Harlequin Books!
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
Finola is a famous local news journalist that finds out her husband is having an affair with a famous country-pop star--on live television! Zennie is perfectly content on her own, going out and being active with her circle of friends, so when she loses her romantic relationship it isn't that big of a deal to her...until she decides to become a surrogate for her best friend and discovers how lonely pregnancy can be. Ali's fiance waits until the wedding invitations have been sent to send his brother to break off the engagement, devastating Ali and leaving her to cancel their wedding plans on her own. On top of all of this mess, the three sisters have agreed to help their mother go through their childhood home and clean out a lifetime of stuff so the house can be sold. Oh, and their mother is nagging them to hurry up and give her grandchildren as soon as possible.
These gals are all having a tough time, so it would stand to reason that they would lean on one another. However, it is super easy to observe some jealousy among them from where mom had a favorite daughter and dad had a favorite daughter and one daughter felt sort of left out. Also, all three have this thing where they don't want to burden the other two with their own problems, so they keep their issues close. It makes for interesting conversations when the three of them are together. BUT I HAVE TO SAY: Their relationships feel very real to me, and some of my experiences with my own sisters (there are three of us) have been very much the same. So I loved reading about the way these three communicated. There is a little bit of friction here and there, but there is also loyalty and love.
As far as the three sisters all having to make huge decisions-these decisions are all a result of where these big break-ups have left them. Each one has to figure out how best to move on to the next chapter of her life. I love love love these types of stories because as women, we are always having to make decisions that affect not only us, but our families and the people that depend on us, right? So I'm always curious to see how other women respond to whatever pressures are put on them. Out of the three sisters, I have to say that I for sure would not have made the same choice that one did; I may not have made the choice that another one did; and I absolutely love the choice that another one did and I probably would have done the exact same thing. You'll have to read to see what they all ended up doing. (:
One of my favorite things about this story is the way that Susan Mallery presents all of the different types of relationships. I've already mentioned that the sister relationship felt real to me, but I also loved the friction and realness of the mother-daughter relationships. Their mother absolutely got on their nerves with her nagging, but it was clear that they loved her tremendously. Also in Zennie's POV, it is interesting to note the levels of support she received from her friends and different family members regarding her choice to become a surrogate for her best friend. Of course, when friends and family disagree with our choices, it can cause tension in our relationships. But I loved that not every single person was 100% happy that she made this choice-I'm not sure that everyone would be on-board automatically in real life either, at least without posing some very real questions. Lots of complexity in the friends and family relationships and I appreciate that.
My favorite POV by far is Ali's. Even though it is a bit heartbreaking in the beginning, I love where it went over the course of the story. LOVE.
So this is another great story by the fabulous Susan Mallery. She is so consistent in producing quality stories that I love. I know that when I choose to read one of her books-new or backlist-I'm pretty much going to enjoy it at the least/love it at the most. She's one of my go-to authors for vacation reads or something when I'm feeling stressed or just anytime I want something that I know will make me happy. And like every other time, I'm already excited for her next book.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you, Harlequin Books!
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
February 25, 2019
Three sisters, three very different lives, all of which are going to change beyond recognition.
Finola the oldest is the host of a TV show, married to a plastic surgeon and about to go on holiday where they will finally start trying for a baby. Zennie is highly skilled OR nurse, single and dedicated to her work she really doesn't see the point of dating although she's going through the motions with a guy she's dated a few times. Ali, the youngest is busy planning her upcoming wedding. Then in one fateful week everything changes, all three women get dumped. Finola's husband announces he's leaving her moments before she goes live on TV, interviewing the younger woman he's having an affair with. Ali's fiance is too much of a coward to tell her himself, so he sends his older, badder brother. Only Zennie's breakup isn't a ritual humiliation, but then she really didn't care in the first place. When her BFF asks Zennie to be her surrogate Zennie doesn't hesitate, after all she has no interest in having a baby of her own.
I wanted to expand my reading horizons which had got into a bt of a rut recently and so I requested this ARC from NetGalley because it sounded like something a bit more than just a chick-lit romance. It was definitely not a chick-lit romance, I would firmly classify this in the women's fiction category but I have to say it didn't really wow me. Having the intertwining stories of the three sisters really just made me feel that we didn't get to see more than a surface impression of each of the sisters, they had no depth. Similarly the male characters were all a bit cardboard. I also had the feeling that frankly not a lot actually happened, there was a lot of the sisters bemoaning that this one was prettier or that one was their father's favourite but not much more. To be honest, I think this is my overall impression of women's fiction and therefore the fault is probably with me for requesting a book in a genre which leaves me so apathetic - a real case of it's not you it's me!
If you are a fan of women's fiction, where the characters reassess their lives and childhoods then I expect that you will enjoy this novel, I have decided that I am not a fan of women's fiction, I like a bit more angst with my romance.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Finola the oldest is the host of a TV show, married to a plastic surgeon and about to go on holiday where they will finally start trying for a baby. Zennie is highly skilled OR nurse, single and dedicated to her work she really doesn't see the point of dating although she's going through the motions with a guy she's dated a few times. Ali, the youngest is busy planning her upcoming wedding. Then in one fateful week everything changes, all three women get dumped. Finola's husband announces he's leaving her moments before she goes live on TV, interviewing the younger woman he's having an affair with. Ali's fiance is too much of a coward to tell her himself, so he sends his older, badder brother. Only Zennie's breakup isn't a ritual humiliation, but then she really didn't care in the first place. When her BFF asks Zennie to be her surrogate Zennie doesn't hesitate, after all she has no interest in having a baby of her own.
I wanted to expand my reading horizons which had got into a bt of a rut recently and so I requested this ARC from NetGalley because it sounded like something a bit more than just a chick-lit romance. It was definitely not a chick-lit romance, I would firmly classify this in the women's fiction category but I have to say it didn't really wow me. Having the intertwining stories of the three sisters really just made me feel that we didn't get to see more than a surface impression of each of the sisters, they had no depth. Similarly the male characters were all a bit cardboard. I also had the feeling that frankly not a lot actually happened, there was a lot of the sisters bemoaning that this one was prettier or that one was their father's favourite but not much more. To be honest, I think this is my overall impression of women's fiction and therefore the fault is probably with me for requesting a book in a genre which leaves me so apathetic - a real case of it's not you it's me!
If you are a fan of women's fiction, where the characters reassess their lives and childhoods then I expect that you will enjoy this novel, I have decided that I am not a fan of women's fiction, I like a bit more angst with my romance.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
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