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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
3.5 stars
I enjoy Susan Mallery's books and was happy to get an advanced copy of this book. Three sisters, Zennie, Finola, and Ali have distinctly different careers, relationships, and outlooks on life. Through various turns in the road, they find their lives upended in one way or another. The steps they take to move forward are admirable and fun to read about. The characters weren't overly warm and developed for me, but it is a light read which is enjoyable.
I enjoy Susan Mallery's books and was happy to get an advanced copy of this book. Three sisters, Zennie, Finola, and Ali have distinctly different careers, relationships, and outlooks on life. Through various turns in the road, they find their lives upended in one way or another. The steps they take to move forward are admirable and fun to read about. The characters weren't overly warm and developed for me, but it is a light read which is enjoyable.
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 stars
I generally like Susan Mallery books, but this one kind of fell flat for me. None of the characters really seemed likeable, except maybe Ali at times. And their parents were kind of awful.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
I generally like Susan Mallery books, but this one kind of fell flat for me. None of the characters really seemed likeable, except maybe Ali at times. And their parents were kind of awful.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Happy endings for all after so much heartache, angst, and pain, both physical and mental. This is the first book I have read by this author.
*you will have California Girls by Katy Perry stuck in your head if you pick up this book*
This was my first Susan Mallery book, and I'm glad I picked it up from the library on a whim! This story is about 3 sisters, each with a unique storyline. One sister works through her husband's affair, another sister recovers from a broken engagement, and the final sister decides to be a surrogate for her best friend. I found their stories intriguing and thought this was a quick and easy read!
This was my first Susan Mallery book, and I'm glad I picked it up from the library on a whim! This story is about 3 sisters, each with a unique storyline. One sister works through her husband's affair, another sister recovers from a broken engagement, and the final sister decides to be a surrogate for her best friend. I found their stories intriguing and thought this was a quick and easy read!
Thoughts I had while listening to this book:
1. Why are so many book [+ movie] parents the worst?
2. If you want to know what your friends and family really think of you, you should be a surrogate.
3. Does pregnancy actually require that many “special” foods?
4. The Universe didn’t send me a Daniel when I didn’t get married and sold my house.
5. Spending a lot of money on a wedding is different than I how I would have done it … but then again, I didn’t get married … [but then again, neither did Ali].
1. Why are so many book [+ movie] parents the worst?
2. If you want to know what your friends and family really think of you, you should be a surrogate.
3. Does pregnancy actually require that many “special” foods?
4. The Universe didn’t send me a Daniel when I didn’t get married and sold my house.
5. Spending a lot of money on a wedding is different than I how I would have done it … but then again, I didn’t get married … [but then again, neither did Ali].
California Girls is the story of 3 sisters - each going through a different challenge in their lives. One is dealing with the potential end of a marriage, another a canceled wedding and the third is deciding whether to be a surrogate for a friend.
I am always drawn to stories of three sisters since I grew up with two younger sisters. I enjoyed following along as the three grew and changed through the book - and just looking at the cover was a great break from the cold February winter weather here!
Thanks to Harlequin Books and the Harlequin Publicity Team for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
I am always drawn to stories of three sisters since I grew up with two younger sisters. I enjoyed following along as the three grew and changed through the book - and just looking at the cover was a great break from the cold February winter weather here!
Thanks to Harlequin Books and the Harlequin Publicity Team for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 stars.
Featuring three sisters whose lives implode on the same day, California Girls by Susan Mallery is a poignant novel of self discovery, new beginnings and healing.
Finola Corrado is happily married to Felix and looking forward to taking their marriage to the next level. The host of a popular morning show, she is stunned when her husband confesses he is having an affair. Depressed and brokenhearted, Finola is hurt by the accusation she is partly responsible for the state of her marriage. She is not exactly the most empathetic woman and she is also a bit shallow. As the weeks pass and her heartbreak plays out in the public eye, will Finola continue to hope Felix will come back to her?
Ali Schmitt is blissfully planning her upcoming wedding to her fiancé Glen. Surprised to find Glen's brother Daniel on her doorstep, she is shocked when he tells her Glen is calling off the wedding. Taken aback by his offer to help as she cancels the wedding preparations, she is grateful for his steadfast support. Reflecting on her relationship with Glen, Ali comes to a few unexpected conclusions about herself and her engagement. As she emerges from the painful break-up, she has newfound confidence that provides the boost she needs to go after what she wants. Ali is also a bit shaken by the discovery that her feelings for Daniel go deeper than friendship. Will Ali have the courage to see if she and Daniel have a future together?
Zennie is self-confident and content with her life. She has a wonderful circle of friends whom she sees quite often. She is physically active and enjoys running, hiking, surfing and rock climbing. Zennie dates but she is not really looking for a permanent relationship. When her latest romance fizzles, she decides to temporarily stop dating. The timing is fortuitous since her best friend Bernie and her husband Hayes ask her to be their surrogate. Zennie does not hesitate to say yes but once she is pregnant, she realizes she might not have given enough thought to how drastically her life will change. Someone from her past offers unexpected assistance but what will happen to their friendship once Zennie gives birth?
California Girls is an introspective, funny and heartwarming novel featuring three sisters who are facing personal challenges. The women are vibrantly developed but some of the sisters are more likable than others. The storyline is quite captivating with each of the women discovering hidden strengths as they overcome their respective challenges. The romantic element is subtle and enhances the sisters' growth as they recover from their painful breakups. The story has plenty of heart and sparkling wit and Susan Mallery brings this thought-provoking novel to an emotional and uplifting conclusion.
Featuring three sisters whose lives implode on the same day, California Girls by Susan Mallery is a poignant novel of self discovery, new beginnings and healing.
Finola Corrado is happily married to Felix and looking forward to taking their marriage to the next level. The host of a popular morning show, she is stunned when her husband confesses he is having an affair. Depressed and brokenhearted, Finola is hurt by the accusation she is partly responsible for the state of her marriage. She is not exactly the most empathetic woman and she is also a bit shallow. As the weeks pass and her heartbreak plays out in the public eye, will Finola continue to hope Felix will come back to her?
Ali Schmitt is blissfully planning her upcoming wedding to her fiancé Glen. Surprised to find Glen's brother Daniel on her doorstep, she is shocked when he tells her Glen is calling off the wedding. Taken aback by his offer to help as she cancels the wedding preparations, she is grateful for his steadfast support. Reflecting on her relationship with Glen, Ali comes to a few unexpected conclusions about herself and her engagement. As she emerges from the painful break-up, she has newfound confidence that provides the boost she needs to go after what she wants. Ali is also a bit shaken by the discovery that her feelings for Daniel go deeper than friendship. Will Ali have the courage to see if she and Daniel have a future together?
Zennie is self-confident and content with her life. She has a wonderful circle of friends whom she sees quite often. She is physically active and enjoys running, hiking, surfing and rock climbing. Zennie dates but she is not really looking for a permanent relationship. When her latest romance fizzles, she decides to temporarily stop dating. The timing is fortuitous since her best friend Bernie and her husband Hayes ask her to be their surrogate. Zennie does not hesitate to say yes but once she is pregnant, she realizes she might not have given enough thought to how drastically her life will change. Someone from her past offers unexpected assistance but what will happen to their friendship once Zennie gives birth?
California Girls is an introspective, funny and heartwarming novel featuring three sisters who are facing personal challenges. The women are vibrantly developed but some of the sisters are more likable than others. The storyline is quite captivating with each of the women discovering hidden strengths as they overcome their respective challenges. The romantic element is subtle and enhances the sisters' growth as they recover from their painful breakups. The story has plenty of heart and sparkling wit and Susan Mallery brings this thought-provoking novel to an emotional and uplifting conclusion.
Thank you to Net Galley for the advance copy of this book. I loved reading it. The relationship between the sisters was so interesting. They weren't all nicey nice, they were sometimes quite harsh with each other which I believe might be what sisters are more like. They had their jealousy issues, but at the same time when the chips were really down they were there for each other. I have to admit, I did not like the dad. He played a very small part in the book, but I thought he could have been more supportive. I really did not like the mom. I found her flaky and self indulgent. It always seemed to be all about her and when her "past" re-emerged into her life, her daughters became a mere blip on the radar!!! She was a real piece of work. I believe readers will enjoy this book as it covers many different types of relationships and shows that sometimes things work out and sometimes things don't, but it does show that perseverance and determination are great attributes to have during the difficult times in your life. A great read that I highly recommend!!!
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes