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Blackberry Island #4
Sisters by Choice
Blackberry Island by Susan Mallery will be available Feb 11, 2020. Preorder your copy today!
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2020
2704 people are currently reading
4122 people want to read
About the author
Susan Mallery
869 books15.5k 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 994 reviews
February 17, 2020
EXCERPT: Eight years after her divorce, Sophie Lane still wasn't very good at dating. She supposed she only had herself to blame - if she really 'put herself out there,' as her cousin Kristine was always saying, she could find someone.
From Sophie's point of view, there were multiple problems with that statement. First, Kristine had married her high school sweetheart after graduation and had been happily married for the past sixteen years. She wasn't exactly someone who should be giving dating advice. Second, Sophie didn't have a lot of time to 'put herself out there.' She was busy - she owned a company and she loved her company and all the hard work that went into keeping it successful. To be honest, her business was way more interesting than any man, which might be a big part of the dating problem. That and, well, the actual dating.
Getting dressed up, meeting for dinner, listening to a man talk about himself for three hours, wasn't exactly how she wanted to spend a lone evening when she wasn't dealing with some crisis at the office. Plus, she never quite understood all the rules.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: After her cat toy empire goes up in flames, Sophie Lane returns to Blackberry Island, determined to rebuild. Until small-town life reveals a big problem: she can’t grow unless she learns to let go. If Sophie relaxes her grip even a little, she might lose everything. Or she might finally be free to reach for the happiness and love that have eluded her for so long.
Kristine has become defined by her relationship to others. She’s a wife, a mom. As much as she adores her husband and sons, she wants something for herself—a sweet little bakery just off the waterfront. She knew changing the rules wouldn’t be easy, but she never imagined she might have to choose between her marriage and her dreams.
Like the mainland on the horizon, Heather’s goals seem beyond her grasp. Every time she manages to save for college, her mother has another crisis. Can she break free, or will she be trapped in this tiny life forever?
MY THOUGHTS: Susan Mallery always manages to make me tear up. When I read her books, I tend to get very emotional. And although I haven't read any of the previous books in this particular series, Mallery still got me with Sisters By Choice.
She writes moving stories with a warm sense of wit that has me smiling even as I am weeping. Her characters are not only strong and sassy, but overwhelmingly realistic - even the unbearable Amber. I am sure we all know someone just like her. I always feel like I have 'moved in' with her characters, they become like friends and family, and I am sad to close the cover on them.
I like Mallery's diversity - yes, there is romance, but there are always other issues, intricate family relationships complete with their inevitable dramas. And although the outcome may be predictable, the journey is an enjoyable one.
****
#SistersByChoice #NetGalley
A couple of quotes from Sisters By Choice by Susan Mallery:
'Sex is great, but sometimes you need a sandwich as well.'
'Parents can make things better and worse, and often do both at the same time.'
THE AUTHOR: #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.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin-MIRA (USA & Canada) for providing me with a digital ARC of Sisters By Choice by Susan Mallery for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on Sandysbooksday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
From Sophie's point of view, there were multiple problems with that statement. First, Kristine had married her high school sweetheart after graduation and had been happily married for the past sixteen years. She wasn't exactly someone who should be giving dating advice. Second, Sophie didn't have a lot of time to 'put herself out there.' She was busy - she owned a company and she loved her company and all the hard work that went into keeping it successful. To be honest, her business was way more interesting than any man, which might be a big part of the dating problem. That and, well, the actual dating.
Getting dressed up, meeting for dinner, listening to a man talk about himself for three hours, wasn't exactly how she wanted to spend a lone evening when she wasn't dealing with some crisis at the office. Plus, she never quite understood all the rules.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: After her cat toy empire goes up in flames, Sophie Lane returns to Blackberry Island, determined to rebuild. Until small-town life reveals a big problem: she can’t grow unless she learns to let go. If Sophie relaxes her grip even a little, she might lose everything. Or she might finally be free to reach for the happiness and love that have eluded her for so long.
Kristine has become defined by her relationship to others. She’s a wife, a mom. As much as she adores her husband and sons, she wants something for herself—a sweet little bakery just off the waterfront. She knew changing the rules wouldn’t be easy, but she never imagined she might have to choose between her marriage and her dreams.
Like the mainland on the horizon, Heather’s goals seem beyond her grasp. Every time she manages to save for college, her mother has another crisis. Can she break free, or will she be trapped in this tiny life forever?
MY THOUGHTS: Susan Mallery always manages to make me tear up. When I read her books, I tend to get very emotional. And although I haven't read any of the previous books in this particular series, Mallery still got me with Sisters By Choice.
She writes moving stories with a warm sense of wit that has me smiling even as I am weeping. Her characters are not only strong and sassy, but overwhelmingly realistic - even the unbearable Amber. I am sure we all know someone just like her. I always feel like I have 'moved in' with her characters, they become like friends and family, and I am sad to close the cover on them.
I like Mallery's diversity - yes, there is romance, but there are always other issues, intricate family relationships complete with their inevitable dramas. And although the outcome may be predictable, the journey is an enjoyable one.
****
#SistersByChoice #NetGalley
A couple of quotes from Sisters By Choice by Susan Mallery:
'Sex is great, but sometimes you need a sandwich as well.'
'Parents can make things better and worse, and often do both at the same time.'
THE AUTHOR: #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.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin-MIRA (USA & Canada) for providing me with a digital ARC of Sisters By Choice by Susan Mallery for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on Sandysbooksday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
June 5, 2020
Well this is hard. I loved this series and this latest book was a flop with me. I think the main issue that the sisters by choice only works for two of the characters. One of the characters in this story learned nothing and got rewarded for it. The character development was lacking and the dialogue was so off in some places.
"Sisters by Choice" follows business owner Sophie Lane, her cousin Kristine, and their second cousin (I think that's what she is) Heather. Sophie returns to Blackberry Island after a fire destroys her business trying to start again. Kristine a stay at home mom has bigger dreams for herself, but a husband who doesn't support her. Heather wants to leave the island and her emotionally and physically (at times) abusive mother behind for college. This book follows the three women as they try to get back on track.
So the book at times didn't seem all linked in. We know the three women interact, but mostly it is Sophie and Kristine. Heather does interact with Sophie a lot more than she does Kristine. And I did like all of the scenes with Sophie and Kristine and needed more of that. That said, the three women needed more development.
Sophie is just blind to her faults to the point I got sick of reading about them. I started to get annoyed by her and her "quirks". I also did loathe people (Kristine) acting as if her getting married was the only thing she really needed in her life. Gah. At least Mallery stuck with Sophie staying single with no kids throughout. I hate when romance writers do that well the love of a good man changed her. I personally don't want to get married or have kids. Idris Elba can show up here divorced and buck naked and that's not going to change what I want. I just didn't like her love interest (he was smug and talked down to her I thought) and hated how she was just used to prop up another character who didn't need/deserve it.
Kristine was the only story-line I was invested in. Her husband is a sexist. Heck, her one son was on the way to being one. I liked the look at how some people view stay at home moms. I didn't think the ending was realistic to her story-line.
Heather was an enabler. Her mother and her have a mutual destructive relationship. I felt bad for her at first, but as others said, she needed to get away and move on. I just thought her story-line was boring after a while.
The other characters don't really do much in this. I wish that previous characters had shown up or been mentioned. I loved this series because Blackberry Island sounded magical and fun and we don't get much of the characters interacting with the setting at all I thought.
The ending was a whatever to me. A secondary character who is the worst gets rewarded and it annoyed the life out of me.
"Sisters by Choice" follows business owner Sophie Lane, her cousin Kristine, and their second cousin (I think that's what she is) Heather. Sophie returns to Blackberry Island after a fire destroys her business trying to start again. Kristine a stay at home mom has bigger dreams for herself, but a husband who doesn't support her. Heather wants to leave the island and her emotionally and physically (at times) abusive mother behind for college. This book follows the three women as they try to get back on track.
So the book at times didn't seem all linked in. We know the three women interact, but mostly it is Sophie and Kristine. Heather does interact with Sophie a lot more than she does Kristine. And I did like all of the scenes with Sophie and Kristine and needed more of that. That said, the three women needed more development.
Sophie is just blind to her faults to the point I got sick of reading about them. I started to get annoyed by her and her "quirks". I also did loathe people (Kristine) acting as if her getting married was the only thing she really needed in her life. Gah. At least Mallery stuck with Sophie staying single with no kids throughout. I hate when romance writers do that well the love of a good man changed her. I personally don't want to get married or have kids. Idris Elba can show up here divorced and buck naked and that's not going to change what I want. I just didn't like her love interest (he was smug and talked down to her I thought) and hated how she was just used to prop up another character who didn't need/deserve it.
Kristine was the only story-line I was invested in. Her husband is a sexist. Heck, her one son was on the way to being one. I liked the look at how some people view stay at home moms. I didn't think the ending was realistic to her story-line.
Heather was an enabler. Her mother and her have a mutual destructive relationship. I felt bad for her at first, but as others said, she needed to get away and move on. I just thought her story-line was boring after a while.
The other characters don't really do much in this. I wish that previous characters had shown up or been mentioned. I loved this series because Blackberry Island sounded magical and fun and we don't get much of the characters interacting with the setting at all I thought.
The ending was a whatever to me. A secondary character who is the worst gets rewarded and it annoyed the life out of me.
February 3, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
“I’ll be fine. You have eight kids to deal with. They would die without you.” Kristine laughed. “It’s three kids.” “When I visit, it feels like more.”
He sure was pretty, she thought absently. He must work out a lot to get shoulders and arms like that. Given the fact that the Lord gaveth and tooketh away in equal measure, she could only assume he had the IQ of a tree stump but that was okay. Sometimes pretty was plenty.
“You’ll be fine,” the woman added. Sophie nodded because curling up in a ball and keening didn’t look good on anyone.
It’s hard to be smug when you figure out the rest of the world is just as smart as you.
“From what you’ve told me, your mother took a difficult situation and made it worse.” “It’s a gift,” she said lightly…
“I hate it when you’re right.” “Then you hate it a lot.”
My Review:
I waffled a bit in how to rate this clever women's fiction story of friendship and family drama as a lot was going on and there were elements and characters I adored, and others – well, not so much, and still others… not at all. But every family has at least a few of those not so much and not at alls, although, unfortunately, the majority of those within my DNA grouping seem to fill those last two categories. So the feelings toward those exasperating characters were all too familiar and annoying, but that is where the similarities end as this story was vastly more amusing, intelligent, cleverly staged, and attractively populated than those trying travesties of familial gatherings of my laboriously suppressed memories. Sigh, if only…
The engaging storylines were perceptively written and highly entertaining and were peppered with sassy banter, clever quips, witty wordplay, and humorous observations. I was completely enamored, besotted, and intrigued by the sexy Dugan who was so wise and insightful he was practically mystical.
I have enjoyed every Susan Mallery book I’ve ever picked up and truly revel in her wit and levity. I always seem to learn something interesting and useful from her books. This time she taught me quite a bit about marketing, and business plans, and unlike my deadly dull Econ course during college, it wasn’t painful at all ;)
“I’ll be fine. You have eight kids to deal with. They would die without you.” Kristine laughed. “It’s three kids.” “When I visit, it feels like more.”
He sure was pretty, she thought absently. He must work out a lot to get shoulders and arms like that. Given the fact that the Lord gaveth and tooketh away in equal measure, she could only assume he had the IQ of a tree stump but that was okay. Sometimes pretty was plenty.
“You’ll be fine,” the woman added. Sophie nodded because curling up in a ball and keening didn’t look good on anyone.
It’s hard to be smug when you figure out the rest of the world is just as smart as you.
“From what you’ve told me, your mother took a difficult situation and made it worse.” “It’s a gift,” she said lightly…
“I hate it when you’re right.” “Then you hate it a lot.”
My Review:
I waffled a bit in how to rate this clever women's fiction story of friendship and family drama as a lot was going on and there were elements and characters I adored, and others – well, not so much, and still others… not at all. But every family has at least a few of those not so much and not at alls, although, unfortunately, the majority of those within my DNA grouping seem to fill those last two categories. So the feelings toward those exasperating characters were all too familiar and annoying, but that is where the similarities end as this story was vastly more amusing, intelligent, cleverly staged, and attractively populated than those trying travesties of familial gatherings of my laboriously suppressed memories. Sigh, if only…
The engaging storylines were perceptively written and highly entertaining and were peppered with sassy banter, clever quips, witty wordplay, and humorous observations. I was completely enamored, besotted, and intrigued by the sexy Dugan who was so wise and insightful he was practically mystical.
I have enjoyed every Susan Mallery book I’ve ever picked up and truly revel in her wit and levity. I always seem to learn something interesting and useful from her books. This time she taught me quite a bit about marketing, and business plans, and unlike my deadly dull Econ course during college, it wasn’t painful at all ;)
December 16, 2019
So ... this is a hard review to write. I usually love Susan Mallerys books - light, hearted, fun reads. This latest one though, whew ... it was hard to finish. I really did not care for this story at all. The characters were so unlikeable - you just wanted to shake them. The only one that seemed to have a backbone was Kristine - I found myself rooting for her. The other women came across as sniveling, weak and entitled - you just wanted them to fail so they would grow up.
You can't win them all and, as a reader, you can't like them all. Won't stop me from reading more by Susan Mallery. Just not anymore in this particular series.
Thank you #netgalley and #HARLEQUIN - MIRA (U.S. and Canada) for the eARC.
You can't win them all and, as a reader, you can't like them all. Won't stop me from reading more by Susan Mallery. Just not anymore in this particular series.
Thank you #netgalley and #HARLEQUIN - MIRA (U.S. and Canada) for the eARC.
February 20, 2020
Awful. Not one character is likeable or believable. Nothing about this ridiculous story is realistic or conceivable . UGH I can't believe I finished it it was so bad. I kept waiting for the most miserable character to get her comeuppance, but no she's rewarded for theft, lies and viciousness. I'm disgusted....
February 27, 2020
I despised Heathers mom Amber. I could have enjoyed the story so much more if she had not been a part of the book. With that being said. I loved the story of the cousins and was rooting for Heather the whole way through the book.
Kristine and Jaxsen were fun to follow. So glad Mallery likes happy endings.
Sophie learned a lot and I loved Dugan so much for teaching her along the way.
I love a good family now days every family in books is so dysfunctional. Well Amber was very dysfunctional.
You have to grab a copy of this and sit back and enjoy it.
Kristine and Jaxsen were fun to follow. So glad Mallery likes happy endings.
Sophie learned a lot and I loved Dugan so much for teaching her along the way.
I love a good family now days every family in books is so dysfunctional. Well Amber was very dysfunctional.
You have to grab a copy of this and sit back and enjoy it.
April 28, 2020
SISTERS BY CHOICE is the fourth book in the BlackBerry Island series. I did not read the previous three books in the series, but I will. This story can easily be read as a stand alone. Holy cow, SISTERS BY CHOICE is one crazy story! This wonderful novel is full of heartwarming and charming moments, even though there was a lot going on in each of the women’s lives, it was still very funny at times as well. SISTERS BY CHOICE is all about three cousins, Sophie, Kristine, and Heather, who are very close and always there for each other. Sophie micro-manages everything to a fault, Kristine lives for her family and tries to always make them happy without thinking about what would make her happy, and Heather who does not have the courage to tell her mother no and live her own life like she wants to.
SISTERS BY CHOICE 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. SISTERS BY CHOICE 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 getting annoyed at Amber and the way she won’t own up to anything she does!
In SISTERS BY CHOICE, 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 SISTERS BY CHOICE!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
SISTERS BY CHOICE 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. SISTERS BY CHOICE 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 getting annoyed at Amber and the way she won’t own up to anything she does!
In SISTERS BY CHOICE, 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 SISTERS BY CHOICE!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
December 10, 2019
I have been a fan of Susan Mallery for a long time and usually love everything she writes. I am sorry to say that I didn't like this book at all. I found it depressing to read about such dysfunctional women. It disgusted me that instead of helping Amber by refusing to continue to enable her "helplessness and stealing" the cousins and her daughter all caved into her in the name of family and caring. I could go on and on about all the things that I didn't like but I won't put that much energy into this . What a disappointment. Do yourself a favor and pass this one up
April 15, 2020
Having read the first three in the Blackberry Island series, I was excited to return to the island once again. Although this is book four, it could easily be read as a stand-alone novel.
Sophie Lane has worked hard to build her business selling cat toys and supplies. When a fire destroys her business in California, she decides to reopen her business in Blackberry Island, her hometown. She's excited to be closer to her cousins and get her business back on track. But what Sophie also brought with her is a need to control everything, not trusting in the ability of others. Even when she meets the hot Tai Chi instructor she can't allow herself to let down her guard.
Kristine is a devoted wife and mother, yet she wants more for her life. She has dreamed for years of opening her own bakery. Unfortunately her husband is not that supportive. Can she find the courage to follow her dreams?
Heather desperately wants to go to college and begin her path to becoming an adult. She admires Sophie for her success, and appreciates Sophie offering her a chance to work for her. Heather's mother, Amber, is selfish, lazy and ungrateful, looking to Heather and others to take care of her. Heather struggles to cut her ties with her mother and find her own independence, despite knowing it's for the best.
With each other's support, these three cousins find the courage to follow their dreams, find love and become their best selves.
3.5 stars.
Sophie Lane has worked hard to build her business selling cat toys and supplies. When a fire destroys her business in California, she decides to reopen her business in Blackberry Island, her hometown. She's excited to be closer to her cousins and get her business back on track. But what Sophie also brought with her is a need to control everything, not trusting in the ability of others. Even when she meets the hot Tai Chi instructor she can't allow herself to let down her guard.
Kristine is a devoted wife and mother, yet she wants more for her life. She has dreamed for years of opening her own bakery. Unfortunately her husband is not that supportive. Can she find the courage to follow her dreams?
Heather desperately wants to go to college and begin her path to becoming an adult. She admires Sophie for her success, and appreciates Sophie offering her a chance to work for her. Heather's mother, Amber, is selfish, lazy and ungrateful, looking to Heather and others to take care of her. Heather struggles to cut her ties with her mother and find her own independence, despite knowing it's for the best.
With each other's support, these three cousins find the courage to follow their dreams, find love and become their best selves.
3.5 stars.
March 29, 2020
I loved the story about Sophie and her successful cat business. The three cousins were all wonderful people. Kristine had a dream of opening up her own bakery selling cookies and brownies. Heather was the youngest cousin and all she wanted was to get off the island and go to college. Her mother, Amber, was a terrible excuse for a human being. I liked the idea that Sophie was a foster mom to pregnant cats. Dugan was a wonderful boyfriend for Sophie.
March 6, 2020
What the heck happened to Ms Mallery? She must have been depressed when she wrote this book. I have never read a book with so many unlikable characters. There was just so much I didn't like about just about every one. From one of the main characters that was so nasty & hatefilled to the others in her family to one who at thirty something was stupid enough to have sex with a man younger then her upon meeting him at a Tai Chi session; there wasn't even a date! Ugh! I don't want to reveal spoilers so I won't go into detail & this is just my opinion but I flipped pages to get past the ones that just made me mad & didn't find much to redeem any of the awful people inhabiting the pages. I think I will give a pass to this author from now on.
February 16, 2020
I love Susan Mallery but this time, her characters were just not likable! Sophie was a gigantic pain in the butt and I could NOT stand her! Heather was a doormat. Kristine was the only saving grace but her husband was an idiot. The story was okay otherwise.
I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 23, 2019
I can't share my review since it belongs to Library Journal. I like Mallery and I fly through her books. This one I didn't love because the toxic relationships were draining to read.
March 2, 2020
I've always told my children and grandchildren that everyone we come in contact with is someone whose life we impact, whether that be in a positive or negative way. Hopefully, we take care of what we say and how we behave and interact so that we have a positive impact on others. This book exemplifies that to me. The relationships are complex, heartfelt, and raw emotions are exuded.
When I requested this book from NetGalley I did so mainly because of the title since I am a trio of sisters so it caught my eye. I had no idea that it was #4 in the Blackberry Island series, so I was questioning a few things. I like knowing the backdrop of everyone's story to help me connect the dots and better understand characters. For example, why on earth was Amber so awful? What I liked though is that the characters were believable, real, and flawed like we all are.
And then there was Jaxsen whose name (and spelling) I love, but the "attraction" ends there. He couldn't capture my heart and kept me frustrated and angry with him, but that's also life. We all have those people in our life who, no matter what we say or do, we just can't connect with them the way we'd like. Some people negatively impact us and that's just how it is.
Don't let these two characters who grabbed my attention the way they did make you think I didn't like the book or hated all of the characters (see my rating). I loved this book and it surprised me in several ways. I am definitely going back and reading the first three books now as soon as I am able.
*Thank you to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - MIRA (U.S. and Canada) for giving me a free copy to read in exchange for my honest opinion/review.
When I requested this book from NetGalley I did so mainly because of the title since I am a trio of sisters so it caught my eye. I had no idea that it was #4 in the Blackberry Island series, so I was questioning a few things. I like knowing the backdrop of everyone's story to help me connect the dots and better understand characters. For example, why on earth was Amber so awful? What I liked though is that the characters were believable, real, and flawed like we all are.
And then there was Jaxsen whose name (and spelling) I love, but the "attraction" ends there. He couldn't capture my heart and kept me frustrated and angry with him, but that's also life. We all have those people in our life who, no matter what we say or do, we just can't connect with them the way we'd like. Some people negatively impact us and that's just how it is.
Don't let these two characters who grabbed my attention the way they did make you think I didn't like the book or hated all of the characters (see my rating). I loved this book and it surprised me in several ways. I am definitely going back and reading the first three books now as soon as I am able.
*Thank you to NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - MIRA (U.S. and Canada) for giving me a free copy to read in exchange for my honest opinion/review.
February 12, 2020
Sisters by Choice is a lovely, heartfelt, astute tale that delves into the dynamics of families and relationship and reminds us that everyone who enters our lives, good or bad, shapes us in some ways.
February 11, 2020
Reading a Susan Mallery book after so long was like coming home to a warm hug. The story was about three women closer than most friends, sisters bound by their hearts.
Sophie lost her factory in fire, so she moved home to Blackberry Island to be with her family Kristine, who was a stay at home mom but had her own dreams which were yet unfulfilled. Heather wanted to break free but her mum had an emotional hook into her.
Being down with fever, I needed a book which would distract me from my aches and pains. And this book was perfect for me. It was absolute fun to read about the three women and the nitty-gritty parts of their life. I loved being the voyeur peeping into their lives. It certainly was more interesting than mine on a good day.
Susan Mallery has written a tale enveloped in warmth and love. I could feel the love between some of the characters, there was a genuine bonhomie between them. The women were varied in their nature, but kind at hearts. I loved the different characteristics inbibed into them. They were colorful, clear-headed, independent, wanting to be independent, and one was a downright parasite. Emotions ran through them at the various circumstances.
Overall, the book made me happy and kept me engrossed through my entire afternoon.
Sophie lost her factory in fire, so she moved home to Blackberry Island to be with her family Kristine, who was a stay at home mom but had her own dreams which were yet unfulfilled. Heather wanted to break free but her mum had an emotional hook into her.
Being down with fever, I needed a book which would distract me from my aches and pains. And this book was perfect for me. It was absolute fun to read about the three women and the nitty-gritty parts of their life. I loved being the voyeur peeping into their lives. It certainly was more interesting than mine on a good day.
Susan Mallery has written a tale enveloped in warmth and love. I could feel the love between some of the characters, there was a genuine bonhomie between them. The women were varied in their nature, but kind at hearts. I loved the different characteristics inbibed into them. They were colorful, clear-headed, independent, wanting to be independent, and one was a downright parasite. Emotions ran through them at the various circumstances.
Overall, the book made me happy and kept me engrossed through my entire afternoon.
July 25, 2020
I've read Susan Mallery's books before, so when I started reading, I couldn't believe that she wrote these characters. Almost everyone was whiny, reading was exhausting. I couldn't get into the story for a while. Unfortunately that was not a good one.
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Hiç yazara yakışmadı valla, bu kadar zorlama karakterler yazacak kadın değil. Hiç beğenmedim, zaten aylardır kindle'da bekletiyordum. Aradan çıkarmak uğruna sıkıcı ve yavan bir hikaye okudum.
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Hiç yazara yakışmadı valla, bu kadar zorlama karakterler yazacak kadın değil. Hiç beğenmedim, zaten aylardır kindle'da bekletiyordum. Aradan çıkarmak uğruna sıkıcı ve yavan bir hikaye okudum.
December 17, 2021
What an awesome story! A story about family, love and second chances. I loved every minute and hated to see it end.
March 27, 2020
Regrettably, there is very little that I liked about this story. Sisters by Choice was one of the most aggravating stories I’ve read in awhile...all due to the characters. These characters are supposed to be everyday people, but God help us if we truly act like them. They were absolutely idiotic; either blindly obstinate, foolhardy, and bigoted, or weak-willed doormats who acted victimized instead of standing up for themselves on the most basic level. Not one of them had qualities I could admire. While pertinent topics were raised, and happy conclusions were reached, which was nice, it was not enough to make it worth putting up with these characters for three hundred pages. I’m all for having flawed characters and a growth arc, but these were completely out of the realm of reality.
July 20, 2020
Rut roh...
I wonder if my reading taste are changing? I tried to read SISTERS by CHOICE and am throwing in the towel... I just can't stand the toxic and negative relationships between these women. The WOOO is me attitude is just killing me. Where are the women that get things done?
They don't live on Blackberry Island.
DNF at
I wonder if my reading taste are changing? I tried to read SISTERS by CHOICE and am throwing in the towel... I just can't stand the toxic and negative relationships between these women. The WOOO is me attitude is just killing me. Where are the women that get things done?
They don't live on Blackberry Island.
DNF at
February 15, 2020
This is the fourth book in the Blackberry Island series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone book. I really enjoyed this story and wish I had started reading Susan Mallery books years ago. Sophie Lane runs a business empire that specializes in cats. When her warehouse burns down, she can move wherever she wants. She decides it is time to head home to Blackberry Island. She can open a new warehouse and give jobs to the locals including family and friends. She is trying to get her business to move forward, as it seems to have stagnated, but how is she to do that?
Sophie is a workaholic and a control freak, but she has a heart of gold, especially when it comes to family. Enter Amber, her cousin. She is the one I loved to hate. She is a professional victim and con artist. She has a daughter, Heather, who is trapped by her mother's selfish lifestyle and demanding ways. Both Heather and Amber get a job at CK Industries, but with very different goals and results. The third woman in the trio is Kristine, Sophie's best friend growing up. Kristine got married right out of high school and has three boys. Her dream is to open a bakery, but her husband is old fashioned and thinks women's place is in the home. This is the story of how Sophie, Kristine and Heather support and encourage one another so they can grow achieve their dreams.
I should have loved these women, but I just liked them, a lot. Sophie has started, developed and run a very successful business, but she makes so many mistakes and bad decisions that it was hard to believe she could have been successful. I know she changes in the story, for the better, but I wish she hadn't been so inept at the beginning. Heather allowed herself to be victimized by her mother. I know this was a form of abuse and she felt she owed everything to her mother due to the emotional abuse she has endured for years. Kristine is supermom. She has done everything for her family and when it is her turn, her husband balks. We do find out what was really behind his actions, but he seemed to be a big baby and chauvinist. She does stick to her guns and has to deal with the consequences. Saying all that, by the end of the book, I loved these three women and how they rose to the challenge and achieved or at least worked towards their dreams. This book has humour, snark, heartbreak, friendship, betrayal, and cute cats. I love the family scenes, they were so realistic and gave the book that relatable feel. The story was well-paced and enjoyable with some good dialogue. Overall I give this story 4.5 stars.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Tanya Eby. I enjoy her narration. She has great expression and I love the various voices she gives the characters, including the male ones. She was a great choice to narrate this story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
Sophie is a workaholic and a control freak, but she has a heart of gold, especially when it comes to family. Enter Amber, her cousin. She is the one I loved to hate. She is a professional victim and con artist. She has a daughter, Heather, who is trapped by her mother's selfish lifestyle and demanding ways. Both Heather and Amber get a job at CK Industries, but with very different goals and results. The third woman in the trio is Kristine, Sophie's best friend growing up. Kristine got married right out of high school and has three boys. Her dream is to open a bakery, but her husband is old fashioned and thinks women's place is in the home. This is the story of how Sophie, Kristine and Heather support and encourage one another so they can grow achieve their dreams.
I should have loved these women, but I just liked them, a lot. Sophie has started, developed and run a very successful business, but she makes so many mistakes and bad decisions that it was hard to believe she could have been successful. I know she changes in the story, for the better, but I wish she hadn't been so inept at the beginning. Heather allowed herself to be victimized by her mother. I know this was a form of abuse and she felt she owed everything to her mother due to the emotional abuse she has endured for years. Kristine is supermom. She has done everything for her family and when it is her turn, her husband balks. We do find out what was really behind his actions, but he seemed to be a big baby and chauvinist. She does stick to her guns and has to deal with the consequences. Saying all that, by the end of the book, I loved these three women and how they rose to the challenge and achieved or at least worked towards their dreams. This book has humour, snark, heartbreak, friendship, betrayal, and cute cats. I love the family scenes, they were so realistic and gave the book that relatable feel. The story was well-paced and enjoyable with some good dialogue. Overall I give this story 4.5 stars.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Tanya Eby. I enjoy her narration. She has great expression and I love the various voices she gives the characters, including the male ones. She was a great choice to narrate this story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
February 10, 2020
As a long-time fan of Susan Mallery's books, I was excited to receive an ARC of "Sisters by Choice." Unfortunately, I do not think this book holds up to Mallery's high standards. The main character was very unlikable, and I wasn't sure why the reader should even like her, let alone root for her to succeed. Thankfully, several of the auxiliary characters were more enjoyable to read about. Also, several of the relationships in this novel had very immature "obstacles" to overcome. Overall, this book was fine, but not as good as Mallery's previous books.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
February 21, 2020
UGH! The premise and story line were almost worth the listen but a few of the characters were so pitiful and pathetic I couldn't finish it. I had to fast forward through to the end hoping for some redemption but there was none. Maybe 20% was worth listening to/reading.
I have listened to/read other books by Ms. Mallery and have enjoyed them. This one was just chock full of unappealing characters. Not sure what she'll come up next if this is what she now thinks her readers will enjoy. Time will tell.
I'm thankful I was able to borrow it from the library so I didn't waste my money; I would have exchanged it if I had purchased it from Audible.
I have listened to/read other books by Ms. Mallery and have enjoyed them. This one was just chock full of unappealing characters. Not sure what she'll come up next if this is what she now thinks her readers will enjoy. Time will tell.
I'm thankful I was able to borrow it from the library so I didn't waste my money; I would have exchanged it if I had purchased it from Audible.
February 10, 2020
4.5 stars.
Sisters by Choice by Susan Mallery is an emotionally compelling novel of new beginnings. This newest release is the forth installment in the Blackberry Island series but can be read as a standalone.
Thirty four year old Sophie Lane returns to Blackberry Island after a fire destroys her business. She is grateful to have the support of her cousin Kristine Fielding but Sophie is struggling with rebuilding her business. Overwhelmed by starting over, she impulsively hires her twenty year cousin Heather Sitterly along with Heather's manipulative mother Amber. Not long after, Kristine unexpectedly faces a crisis in her marriage when husband Jaxsen vehemently objects to her plans to open a bakery. Sophie, Kristine and Heather are incredibly supportive as each of them confronts the issues that are standing in their way as they attempt to make needed changes in their lives.
Sophie is a strong-willed, controlling woman who micromanages everyone who works for her. She has no personal life since she spends the majority of her days at work. Kristine convinces her cousin to join a Tai Chi class where gorgeous instructor Dugan catches Sophie's eye. As she resists giving up control at work, Dugan offers thought-provoking advice that often infuriates her. Sophie has serious trust issues that threaten to derail both her business plans and her budding romance with Dugan. With her goal of expanding her lucrative business into new markets, will Sophie understand she is not the expert she believes herself to be?
Kristine is a stay at home mom to three sons. She also runs a successful baked goods business on the side. Kristine has long dreamed of opening her own bakery and when the perfect store becomes available, she is finally ready to put her plans into action. However, she is completely stunned by Jaxsen's reaction when she finally reveals her business plan. Forced to take a hard look at her marriage and her own behavior, Kristine must decide if she will put aside her own aspirations in the face of Jaxsen's obstinate refusal to support her desire to be more than a wife and mother.
Heather is working several jobs to support herself and her lazy, entitled mother. Caught in a vicious cycle of wanting to leave Blackberry Island and always giving in to Amber's demands, Heather is absolutely miserable. Grateful for the opportunity for valuable work experience, she throws herself into her new job at Sophie's business. Out of her depth yet determined to succeed, Heather must soon decide whether she will do what is best for her instead of always acquiescing to Amber. Will Heather find the courage and strength to extricate herself from her toxic relationship with her mother?
Sisters by Choice is a thought-provoking novel with realistic characters and true to life issues to overcome. Sophie is a little overbearing but her rougher edges begin to smooth as she becomes more self-aware of how unreasonable she can sometimes be. Kristine must break her pattern of always giving in during disagreements with her husband. Jaxsen loves his wife, but his intransigence over the bakery endangers their marriage. Heather is a sympathetic young woman who is facing a tough choice that could have long lasting repercussions for her future. Amber is a thoroughly unlikable woman who makes no effort to take responsibility for her increasingly despicable actions. With believable character growth and surprising solutions to the characters' various situations, Susan Mallery brings this charming novel to an uplifting conclusion. Old and new fans will enjoy this latest addition the Blackberry Island series.
Sisters by Choice by Susan Mallery is an emotionally compelling novel of new beginnings. This newest release is the forth installment in the Blackberry Island series but can be read as a standalone.
Thirty four year old Sophie Lane returns to Blackberry Island after a fire destroys her business. She is grateful to have the support of her cousin Kristine Fielding but Sophie is struggling with rebuilding her business. Overwhelmed by starting over, she impulsively hires her twenty year cousin Heather Sitterly along with Heather's manipulative mother Amber. Not long after, Kristine unexpectedly faces a crisis in her marriage when husband Jaxsen vehemently objects to her plans to open a bakery. Sophie, Kristine and Heather are incredibly supportive as each of them confronts the issues that are standing in their way as they attempt to make needed changes in their lives.
Sophie is a strong-willed, controlling woman who micromanages everyone who works for her. She has no personal life since she spends the majority of her days at work. Kristine convinces her cousin to join a Tai Chi class where gorgeous instructor Dugan catches Sophie's eye. As she resists giving up control at work, Dugan offers thought-provoking advice that often infuriates her. Sophie has serious trust issues that threaten to derail both her business plans and her budding romance with Dugan. With her goal of expanding her lucrative business into new markets, will Sophie understand she is not the expert she believes herself to be?
Kristine is a stay at home mom to three sons. She also runs a successful baked goods business on the side. Kristine has long dreamed of opening her own bakery and when the perfect store becomes available, she is finally ready to put her plans into action. However, she is completely stunned by Jaxsen's reaction when she finally reveals her business plan. Forced to take a hard look at her marriage and her own behavior, Kristine must decide if she will put aside her own aspirations in the face of Jaxsen's obstinate refusal to support her desire to be more than a wife and mother.
Heather is working several jobs to support herself and her lazy, entitled mother. Caught in a vicious cycle of wanting to leave Blackberry Island and always giving in to Amber's demands, Heather is absolutely miserable. Grateful for the opportunity for valuable work experience, she throws herself into her new job at Sophie's business. Out of her depth yet determined to succeed, Heather must soon decide whether she will do what is best for her instead of always acquiescing to Amber. Will Heather find the courage and strength to extricate herself from her toxic relationship with her mother?
Sisters by Choice is a thought-provoking novel with realistic characters and true to life issues to overcome. Sophie is a little overbearing but her rougher edges begin to smooth as she becomes more self-aware of how unreasonable she can sometimes be. Kristine must break her pattern of always giving in during disagreements with her husband. Jaxsen loves his wife, but his intransigence over the bakery endangers their marriage. Heather is a sympathetic young woman who is facing a tough choice that could have long lasting repercussions for her future. Amber is a thoroughly unlikable woman who makes no effort to take responsibility for her increasingly despicable actions. With believable character growth and surprising solutions to the characters' various situations, Susan Mallery brings this charming novel to an uplifting conclusion. Old and new fans will enjoy this latest addition the Blackberry Island series.
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March 8, 2020How wonderful are the books Susan Mallery writes!!! I really hope we learn more about these women in upcoming Blackberry Island stories!!!
September 1, 2021
Als Sophies Firma in Flammen aufgeht, beschließt sie ihren Neuanfang in ihrer Heimat auf Blackberry Island zu wagen. Hier hat sie die Unterstützung ihrer Cousine Kristine, die dort glücklich verheiratet mit ihren drei Söhnen lebt. Und auch die Tochter ihrer Cousine Amber, Heather, unterstützt sie dabei ihre Firma wieder neu aufzubauen.
Wir begleiten die drei bei der Verwirklichung ihrer Träume oft gegen den Widerstand der eigenen Familie. Kristine möchte eine Bäckerei eröffnen und dieser Traum kostet sie fast ihre Ehe. Nur langsam kann sie ihren Mann davon überzeugen, sie zu unterstützen.
Heather dagegen muss lernen sich gegen ihre Mutter Amber durchzusetzen. Die hat nur ein Lebensziel, meckern und sich beschweren. Dazu schafft sie es nicht sich und ihre Tochter zu ernähren und so ist Heather seit ihrem 16. Lebensjahr diejenige, die für den Unterhalt sorgt. Immer wieder nutzt Amber ihre Tochter aus und verhindert so, dass diese ihre Zukunftspläne umsetzen kann.
Mir hat das Buch gut gefallen, besonders die Entwicklung von Sophie. Anfangs wirkt sie wie eine toughe Geschäftsfrau, die trotz dem Brand alles im Griff hat und es schafft ihre Firma neu aufzubauen. Doch so langsam stellt sich heraus, dass sie nicht delegieren kann und sich damit mehr schadet als nützt. Ich fand es interessant, wie sie nach und nach realisiert, dass sie auf andere hören muss, um weiter erfolgreich zu sein.
Das Buch liest sich locker und flüssig. Es macht Spaß die Wege der drei Frauen zu verfolgen, auch wenn Amber eine wirklich nervtötende Figur ist. Die Atmosphäre auf Blackberry Island ist toll beschrieben, man direkt das Gefühl alles vor Augen zu haben.
Inselpfade zum Glück ist bereits das vierte Buch, das auf Blackberry Island spielt. Allerdings haben die Bände wohl außer dem Handlungsort nichts gemeinsam und können daher unabhängig voneinander gelesen werden.
Ich kann das Buch als leichte Lektüre für zwischendurch auf jeden Fall empfehlen.
Wir begleiten die drei bei der Verwirklichung ihrer Träume oft gegen den Widerstand der eigenen Familie. Kristine möchte eine Bäckerei eröffnen und dieser Traum kostet sie fast ihre Ehe. Nur langsam kann sie ihren Mann davon überzeugen, sie zu unterstützen.
Heather dagegen muss lernen sich gegen ihre Mutter Amber durchzusetzen. Die hat nur ein Lebensziel, meckern und sich beschweren. Dazu schafft sie es nicht sich und ihre Tochter zu ernähren und so ist Heather seit ihrem 16. Lebensjahr diejenige, die für den Unterhalt sorgt. Immer wieder nutzt Amber ihre Tochter aus und verhindert so, dass diese ihre Zukunftspläne umsetzen kann.
Mir hat das Buch gut gefallen, besonders die Entwicklung von Sophie. Anfangs wirkt sie wie eine toughe Geschäftsfrau, die trotz dem Brand alles im Griff hat und es schafft ihre Firma neu aufzubauen. Doch so langsam stellt sich heraus, dass sie nicht delegieren kann und sich damit mehr schadet als nützt. Ich fand es interessant, wie sie nach und nach realisiert, dass sie auf andere hören muss, um weiter erfolgreich zu sein.
Das Buch liest sich locker und flüssig. Es macht Spaß die Wege der drei Frauen zu verfolgen, auch wenn Amber eine wirklich nervtötende Figur ist. Die Atmosphäre auf Blackberry Island ist toll beschrieben, man direkt das Gefühl alles vor Augen zu haben.
Inselpfade zum Glück ist bereits das vierte Buch, das auf Blackberry Island spielt. Allerdings haben die Bände wohl außer dem Handlungsort nichts gemeinsam und können daher unabhängig voneinander gelesen werden.
Ich kann das Buch als leichte Lektüre für zwischendurch auf jeden Fall empfehlen.
January 22, 2020
Bestseller right here!!!!!!! Love most of Susan Mallery's books and this one is no exception. It has her signature style of pulling you into the story, the characters lives, and just making you fall in love with them too!!!! Thank you to Mira Publishing for my honest review
February 14, 2020
Originally published at Reading Reality
I picked this book because I generally enjoy Susan Mallery’s explorations of small-town sisterhood, whether those sisters are by blood or by choice. In this particular story it’s a little bit of both. And I also chose it because I was part of an Excerpt Tour for the book a couple of weeks ago, and the teaser was more than enough to make me want to read the story!
I’d say this was a story about three women whose lives have gone off the rails, but that’s not quite right. As the story opens Sophie’s life has just gone spectacularly off the rails – and up in flames. Kristine’s life is about to go off the rails, and she just doesn’t know it yet. Heather’s life, however, has never been ON the rails, so it can’t actually go off those rails. The issue in Heather’s life is that she has been letting someone else drive her train and it’s not working for her. It’s doubtful if it’s even working for them.
Sophie, Kristine and Heather are cousins who all grew up in the little town of Blackberry Island. Sophie and Kristine grew up together, but Heather is kind of a half-generation behind them. Her mother was closer to Sophie and Kristine in age, but much further from them in spirit.
The three are also at different points in their lives when everything goes completely pear-shaped. Sophie’s business empire has just gone up in flames, Kristine’s marriage runs into tsunami-sized waves and Heather is just plain drowning.
In a strange way, all of their troubles end up wrapped around the issue of control. Sophie, restarting from scratch, doesn’t want to acknowledge that she cannot do every single job in her business and still lead and grow the business. She has to learn to let go enough to trust people to do their jobs, and to trust that people who promise to be there for her will be.
Kristine, on the other hand, in the course of her 16-year marriage has ceded all control to her husband. He gets everything he wants, and she gives in whenever there is any conflict between them. But now that their three sons are growing up, she knows it’s time for her to finally reach for some dreams of her own, a bakery business that she has planned for years but the time has never been right to execute – until now. Only to have the entire thing explode in her face when her husband turns Neanderthal and leaves rather than let her have anything of her own.
Meanwhile, Heather feels trapped. She’s 20 years old and working 4 jobs to support herself and her mother. Her mother isn’t even 40 year, perfectly healthy and refuses to either hold down a job or even begin to see that mooching off her daughter and being completely unwilling to lift a finger to do anything except spend more money is only working for her. But then, Amber twists every situation to make herself the victim. In order to save herself, Heather needs to bring her courage to the sticking point and just leave – before she ends up just like her mother.
The fire at Sophie’s business brings Sophie back home to start again. Her return to Blackberry Island sets events in motion. Where all three women will be in terms of their lives, their personal relationships and their relationship with each other by the time that Sophie is back on her feet provides the tension through the entire book.
It is terrific watching them all find their way – especially because the ways that they are all different pull them together.
Escape Rating B: Reading Sisters by Choice felt a bit like watching three snowballs roll down the hill, picking up speed, along with plenty of grass and twigs, as they go. And then, at the halfway point, one by one those snowballs start to brake. Until they each suddenly get a grip on their trajectory, and somehow learn to ski like an Olympic gold medal contender.
The first half of this book was a hard read. I felt for all of the characters and all of their lives are going to hell in a handcart in ways that felt very familiar. I wanted them all to get better, but I didn’t enjoy suffering through their pain. And it was extremely painful.
Heather’s situation was the hardest. She’s in so deep, and there’s just no hope. Her mother is not going to change and the situation is not going to get better. Heather’s only choices are leaving and drowning, and we’re not sure until near the end which she is going to choose. (Someone I know had a mother just like hers, and there are just no other options. You can only save yourself because the other person does not want to be saved and doesn’t even see the need to be saved. They’re doing just fine because you’re doing all the work and they’re perfectly happy with that arrangement no matter how much they complain.)
Kristine’s situation felt equally awful. She wants to open a bakery. She’s been selling baked goods for years, every weekend, to the tourist venues around town, and she has all the business she can handle without professional sized ovens and equipment. Her sons are all between 10 and 14, so while they still need her, they don’t NEED her the way they did when they were all under 5. But when her husband refuses to even listen to her, let alone support her dreams the way she’s always supported his, she is forced to acknowledge that she’s always been the one to give in and she just can’t anymore. Marriage is supposed to be 50/50, but she’s been giving both 50s for way too long. But standing up for herself is hard. Necessary, but damn difficult every step of the way.
Sophie has the easiest time, and it’s still difficult. But most of her wounds feel self-inflicted. She’s a control freak who can’t let go – and she needs to. But it’s a hard lesson. In the end, it feels like she learns more from the two pregnant cats – and their kittens – that she fosters than she does from any of the humans who keep trying to tell her that she can’t and shouldn’t do it all. And that’s OK. Part of Sophie’s frenetic pace is to keep her from grieving for the cat who saw her through college and was the foundation of her business. It takes Lily and Mrs. Bennett to clue her in that life goes on, even after a loss, or two, or all ten of their kittens off to furever homes.
In the end, these three women build a stronger relationship with each other and find their completely different versions of happy. Heather spreads her wings towards college and freedom. Kristine and her husband repair their marriage on a more equal footing. And Sophie, along with Lily and Mrs. Bennett, make their home with a man who loves them as they are and has no intention of changing them.
And that’s just the way it should be.
The beginning of this one was rough, but the way it turned around at the halfway makes me want to go back and read the previous books in the series, starting with Barefoot Season. The next time I want to spend some quality time in a lovely place with interesting people and just the right amount of drama and romance!
I picked this book because I generally enjoy Susan Mallery’s explorations of small-town sisterhood, whether those sisters are by blood or by choice. In this particular story it’s a little bit of both. And I also chose it because I was part of an Excerpt Tour for the book a couple of weeks ago, and the teaser was more than enough to make me want to read the story!
I’d say this was a story about three women whose lives have gone off the rails, but that’s not quite right. As the story opens Sophie’s life has just gone spectacularly off the rails – and up in flames. Kristine’s life is about to go off the rails, and she just doesn’t know it yet. Heather’s life, however, has never been ON the rails, so it can’t actually go off those rails. The issue in Heather’s life is that she has been letting someone else drive her train and it’s not working for her. It’s doubtful if it’s even working for them.
Sophie, Kristine and Heather are cousins who all grew up in the little town of Blackberry Island. Sophie and Kristine grew up together, but Heather is kind of a half-generation behind them. Her mother was closer to Sophie and Kristine in age, but much further from them in spirit.
The three are also at different points in their lives when everything goes completely pear-shaped. Sophie’s business empire has just gone up in flames, Kristine’s marriage runs into tsunami-sized waves and Heather is just plain drowning.
In a strange way, all of their troubles end up wrapped around the issue of control. Sophie, restarting from scratch, doesn’t want to acknowledge that she cannot do every single job in her business and still lead and grow the business. She has to learn to let go enough to trust people to do their jobs, and to trust that people who promise to be there for her will be.
Kristine, on the other hand, in the course of her 16-year marriage has ceded all control to her husband. He gets everything he wants, and she gives in whenever there is any conflict between them. But now that their three sons are growing up, she knows it’s time for her to finally reach for some dreams of her own, a bakery business that she has planned for years but the time has never been right to execute – until now. Only to have the entire thing explode in her face when her husband turns Neanderthal and leaves rather than let her have anything of her own.
Meanwhile, Heather feels trapped. She’s 20 years old and working 4 jobs to support herself and her mother. Her mother isn’t even 40 year, perfectly healthy and refuses to either hold down a job or even begin to see that mooching off her daughter and being completely unwilling to lift a finger to do anything except spend more money is only working for her. But then, Amber twists every situation to make herself the victim. In order to save herself, Heather needs to bring her courage to the sticking point and just leave – before she ends up just like her mother.
The fire at Sophie’s business brings Sophie back home to start again. Her return to Blackberry Island sets events in motion. Where all three women will be in terms of their lives, their personal relationships and their relationship with each other by the time that Sophie is back on her feet provides the tension through the entire book.
It is terrific watching them all find their way – especially because the ways that they are all different pull them together.
Escape Rating B: Reading Sisters by Choice felt a bit like watching three snowballs roll down the hill, picking up speed, along with plenty of grass and twigs, as they go. And then, at the halfway point, one by one those snowballs start to brake. Until they each suddenly get a grip on their trajectory, and somehow learn to ski like an Olympic gold medal contender.
The first half of this book was a hard read. I felt for all of the characters and all of their lives are going to hell in a handcart in ways that felt very familiar. I wanted them all to get better, but I didn’t enjoy suffering through their pain. And it was extremely painful.
Heather’s situation was the hardest. She’s in so deep, and there’s just no hope. Her mother is not going to change and the situation is not going to get better. Heather’s only choices are leaving and drowning, and we’re not sure until near the end which she is going to choose. (Someone I know had a mother just like hers, and there are just no other options. You can only save yourself because the other person does not want to be saved and doesn’t even see the need to be saved. They’re doing just fine because you’re doing all the work and they’re perfectly happy with that arrangement no matter how much they complain.)
Kristine’s situation felt equally awful. She wants to open a bakery. She’s been selling baked goods for years, every weekend, to the tourist venues around town, and she has all the business she can handle without professional sized ovens and equipment. Her sons are all between 10 and 14, so while they still need her, they don’t NEED her the way they did when they were all under 5. But when her husband refuses to even listen to her, let alone support her dreams the way she’s always supported his, she is forced to acknowledge that she’s always been the one to give in and she just can’t anymore. Marriage is supposed to be 50/50, but she’s been giving both 50s for way too long. But standing up for herself is hard. Necessary, but damn difficult every step of the way.
Sophie has the easiest time, and it’s still difficult. But most of her wounds feel self-inflicted. She’s a control freak who can’t let go – and she needs to. But it’s a hard lesson. In the end, it feels like she learns more from the two pregnant cats – and their kittens – that she fosters than she does from any of the humans who keep trying to tell her that she can’t and shouldn’t do it all. And that’s OK. Part of Sophie’s frenetic pace is to keep her from grieving for the cat who saw her through college and was the foundation of her business. It takes Lily and Mrs. Bennett to clue her in that life goes on, even after a loss, or two, or all ten of their kittens off to furever homes.
In the end, these three women build a stronger relationship with each other and find their completely different versions of happy. Heather spreads her wings towards college and freedom. Kristine and her husband repair their marriage on a more equal footing. And Sophie, along with Lily and Mrs. Bennett, make their home with a man who loves them as they are and has no intention of changing them.
And that’s just the way it should be.
The beginning of this one was rough, but the way it turned around at the halfway makes me want to go back and read the previous books in the series, starting with Barefoot Season. The next time I want to spend some quality time in a lovely place with interesting people and just the right amount of drama and romance!
December 19, 2020
I like a good “popcorn” read now and then, and this series normally is reliable for cute stories and a bit of escapism. But I hated it. A cat brand empire goes up in flames. Okay, I like my cats, but really? Million dollar businesses going to a small island? Sure. And meet billionaire tai chi instructors? K. Another main character wants to bake for a living. But she’s married to a sexist pig and has a son becoming one too. Let’s go to #3, a 20 year old with a mom who whines, mooches off her daughter and is a walking cliche. I hated these people. And would vote them all off the island.
February 14, 2020
Complete trash.
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