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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I'm a middle sister of three sisters who grew up in Southern California - just like the 3 main characters here (although we moved around, and lived in Northern California for several years, too). (I was almost going to use this space to tell you about our careers and our dramatic breakups, but I suppose all you really need to know about that is that we all have/had them, but they didn't all happen in the same week. So, I'm like an expert reviewer for this book. LOL!)
The eldest Finola is a television-talk-show host, but I think readers are meant to be impressed by her career, not think of it as a joke, as I did. I guess I am unable to be fully respectful of morning television chat programs, but to be honest, I haven't heard or watched them since I was a child, except when they are mocked on SNL or the nighttime comedy stations. If you listen to KPFA radio and Democracy Now, where the hosts are journalists who prepare themselves by reading the books of the people they interview, coming up with thoughtful questions, and planning for a 30- to 60-minute discussion, you would not be impressed by Finola's work ethic, which revolves 90% around her appearance, and 10% around the content - in a bold, surprise move she makes towards the end of the book. In any case, she is a type-A, domineering woman, who is capable of appearing fully professional while falling apart inside after her handsome husband makes a dickhead move to unsettle her, then leaves her for a famous singer. He's an asshole, but she still can't stop picturing their intended beautiful, charmed future.
The middle sister, Zennie, is a nurse and very athletic. And yet she seems to have forgotten or not believed her professional training, because she is totally surprised by the hormonal & appetite surges, emotional & physical changes, and the general stress she experiences when she intentionally becomes impregnated as a surrogate for a best friend with cancer. Similarly, despite her self-confidence and professional experience, she is unable to set even minimal boundaries for her friend. However, she is much more likable than Finola, at least. When her boyfriend dumps her, she barely notices, until a few months later when half her friends have let her down, she's craving foot massages & non-vegan food choices, and she realizes he's actually worth making an effort to relate to. As a friend - or so she thinks for dozens of pages longer than any reader would've.
The youngest is Ali, who is one of several employees at a car parts place, where she is excellent at her accounting-like job, friendly to all, and so humble & self-effacing, they have no idea that she'd like to do her same job but get paid more for it. Anyway, she totally surprises herself and her family by first getting dumped by a true jerk of a fiance just 10 days before the wedding.
OMG I can't believe I just took all that time to type this when I didn't even like this book! It just went on and on about stuff that almost mattered, but actually didn't, like this review, and like so many things that get more attention than they deserve in Southern California.
Also, if someone is trying to make Encino, Burbank, & the San Fernando Valley sound like exciting places, don't put the beach on the cover of the book. And nobody in this book drove a vintage convertible, certainly not right onto the beach - but I guess they wouldn't have all fit on a motocross bike, so this was close enough to give you the feeling of having something to do with vehicles beyond simple transportation.
The eldest Finola is a television-talk-show host, but I think readers are meant to be impressed by her career, not think of it as a joke, as I did. I guess I am unable to be fully respectful of morning television chat programs, but to be honest, I haven't heard or watched them since I was a child, except when they are mocked on SNL or the nighttime comedy stations. If you listen to KPFA radio and Democracy Now, where the hosts are journalists who prepare themselves by reading the books of the people they interview, coming up with thoughtful questions, and planning for a 30- to 60-minute discussion, you would not be impressed by Finola's work ethic, which revolves 90% around her appearance, and 10% around the content - in a bold, surprise move she makes towards the end of the book. In any case, she is a type-A, domineering woman, who is capable of appearing fully professional while falling apart inside after her handsome husband makes a dickhead move to unsettle her, then leaves her for a famous singer. He's an asshole, but she still can't stop picturing their intended beautiful, charmed future.
The middle sister, Zennie, is a nurse and very athletic. And yet she seems to have forgotten or not believed her professional training, because she is totally surprised by the hormonal & appetite surges, emotional & physical changes, and the general stress she experiences when she intentionally becomes impregnated as a surrogate for a best friend with cancer. Similarly, despite her self-confidence and professional experience, she is unable to set even minimal boundaries for her friend. However, she is much more likable than Finola, at least. When her boyfriend dumps her, she barely notices, until a few months later when half her friends have let her down, she's craving foot massages & non-vegan food choices, and she realizes he's actually worth making an effort to relate to. As a friend - or so she thinks for dozens of pages longer than any reader would've.
The youngest is Ali, who is one of several employees at a car parts place, where she is excellent at her accounting-like job, friendly to all, and so humble & self-effacing, they have no idea that she'd like to do her same job but get paid more for it. Anyway, she totally surprises herself and her family by first getting dumped by a true jerk of a fiance just 10 days before the wedding
Spoiler
, only to discover that his more-handsome, more-considerate, more-successful, kinder, gentler, smarter brother has secretly loved her ALL this time. I must have spaced out when it was explained why he loves her so much - but I think it must be related to car parts since he owns a motocross racing park so they work in similar fields. But it could also be that we only hear each person's self-description, so just because Ali thinks she's boring-looking in comparison to Finola and Zennie, she still could be smashingly gorgeous...and that could be enough to catch the winning guyOMG I can't believe I just took all that time to type this when I didn't even like this book! It just went on and on about stuff that almost mattered, but actually didn't, like this review, and like so many things that get more attention than they deserve in Southern California.
Also, if someone is trying to make Encino, Burbank, & the San Fernando Valley sound like exciting places, don't put the beach on the cover of the book. And nobody in this book drove a vintage convertible, certainly not right onto the beach - but I guess they wouldn't have all fit on a motocross bike, so this was close enough to give you the feeling of having something to do with vehicles beyond simple transportation.
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
I read lots of books from lots of genres and by lots of authors. Susan Mallery is consistently amazing and her books are always an auto-read for me! Another great one here!
Sisters Ali, Zennie, and Finola are having a rough time in the relationship department - they've all been dumped in the same week. Ali's fiancé sent his brother to break off their engagement; Finola finds out her husband is having an affair with a pop sensation who is a guest on the talk show she hosts; and Zennie just doesn't see the point in dating, a fact her latest date notices before he breaks it off with her.
Each sister copes with the breakup in her own way. Ali tackles the task of unplanning her wedding, luckily she has lots of help in the form of the once-future-brother-in-law who keeps showing up. Finola hides from the press while she tries to figure out what went wrong with her marriage. And Zennie, not really heartbroken but definitely still over the dating scene, skips to the next step and gets pregnant (she agrees to serve as a surrogate to her best friend).
In the typical fashion of Susan Mallery characters, the sisters learn more about themselves than ever before and grow into the women they truly are, all while repairing their relationships with each other.
I love Susan Mallery's books; they are always such quick, light-hearted reads. The Fools Gold series is one of my favorite to visit. California Girls does not disappoint - definitely a must-read, especially if you're looking for a feel-good story.
My thanks to Harlequin-Mira and Netgalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Each sister copes with the breakup in her own way. Ali tackles the task of unplanning her wedding, luckily she has lots of help in the form of the once-future-brother-in-law who keeps showing up. Finola hides from the press while she tries to figure out what went wrong with her marriage. And Zennie, not really heartbroken but definitely still over the dating scene, skips to the next step and gets pregnant (she agrees to serve as a surrogate to her best friend).
In the typical fashion of Susan Mallery characters, the sisters learn more about themselves than ever before and grow into the women they truly are, all while repairing their relationships with each other.
I love Susan Mallery's books; they are always such quick, light-hearted reads. The Fools Gold series is one of my favorite to visit. California Girls does not disappoint - definitely a must-read, especially if you're looking for a feel-good story.
My thanks to Harlequin-Mira and Netgalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
What an enjoyable read! Not my normal genre so this was the perfect break between my regular historical fiction and psychological thrillers. The three sisters each had interesting dilemmas with one exhausting mother who had no filter in her cutting remarks. Makes you think how you'd handle each of their situations.
Mallery’s newest is definitely more women’s fiction than romance, so you need to be prepared for time spent with the sisters but hardly any with their respective men.
Well, two of the sisters – one of them definitely has a bit more of a love story going on, without shortchanging any of her personal growth and development. There is a new(ish) man in Ali’s life and he helps her see herself differently. She listens and learns and finds her true self buried behind years of doubt. I really like the woman she becomes and where her life is heading.
Finola has to do a lot of self-evaluation. With the betrayal by her husband it is easy to lay the blame totally on him but every relationship has two people in it. No one wants to hear that some of the fault is their’s when a spouse cheats and Finola is no different. But time and a few tough conversations has her looking at herself and exactly how much she’s invested in the people around her.
Zennie is probably the hardest for me to connect to. I get where she’s coming from and really you can’t understand what pregnancy does to you until you actually experience it (man, those hormones!), but it’s such a unique situation. I did enjoy how Mallery explores, at least for a while, the idea that not everyone wants or needs to be coupled up. That is the most interesting part of Zennie’s story – her comfort with her life as it is, with friends, family, work, and hobbies.
My only real complaint is that, with three sisters all having a big part of the story, there is a lot of back and forth between them. It is kinda hard to really get into one part of it knowing you are going to be pulled out and into another. After a while I got used to it but I don’t think that I was ever fully able to commit.
Charm, though, is always a mainstay of Mallery’s stories and this one is no different. There is plenty to smile about but she also delivers on the harder emotions as the sisters evaluate themselves and their lives. It’s not easy when you have to face your shortcomings but these women manage to come out of it stronger.
**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**
Well, two of the sisters – one of them definitely has a bit more of a love story going on, without shortchanging any of her personal growth and development. There is a new(ish) man in Ali’s life and he helps her see herself differently. She listens and learns and finds her true self buried behind years of doubt. I really like the woman she becomes and where her life is heading.
Finola has to do a lot of self-evaluation. With the betrayal by her husband it is easy to lay the blame totally on him but every relationship has two people in it. No one wants to hear that some of the fault is their’s when a spouse cheats and Finola is no different. But time and a few tough conversations has her looking at herself and exactly how much she’s invested in the people around her.
Zennie is probably the hardest for me to connect to. I get where she’s coming from and really you can’t understand what pregnancy does to you until you actually experience it (man, those hormones!), but it’s such a unique situation. I did enjoy how Mallery explores, at least for a while, the idea that not everyone wants or needs to be coupled up. That is the most interesting part of Zennie’s story – her comfort with her life as it is, with friends, family, work, and hobbies.
My only real complaint is that, with three sisters all having a big part of the story, there is a lot of back and forth between them. It is kinda hard to really get into one part of it knowing you are going to be pulled out and into another. After a while I got used to it but I don’t think that I was ever fully able to commit.
Charm, though, is always a mainstay of Mallery’s stories and this one is no different. There is plenty to smile about but she also delivers on the harder emotions as the sisters evaluate themselves and their lives. It’s not easy when you have to face your shortcomings but these women manage to come out of it stronger.
**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**
Really liked the story, would love to see what happens to each of sisters in the future!
*3.5*
The whole time I was reading this book I kept going back and forth with what I would rate it. I enjoyed the characters and the lightness of the book but I think my expectations were always a little too high. I was always expecting a bit more depth where there wasn’t any. I had just come off of a really intense book that was extremely meaningful and I think that could have an influence on my rating.
I would recommend this book for a light beach read if you’re not looking for something too complicated.
The whole time I was reading this book I kept going back and forth with what I would rate it. I enjoyed the characters and the lightness of the book but I think my expectations were always a little too high. I was always expecting a bit more depth where there wasn’t any. I had just come off of a really intense book that was extremely meaningful and I think that could have an influence on my rating.
I would recommend this book for a light beach read if you’re not looking for something too complicated.