The California sunshine’s not quite so bright for three sisterswho get dumped in the same week… fine, she’s crumbling inside, desperate for him to come to his senses and for life to go back to normal.
Zennie’s breakup is no big loss. Although the world insists she pair up, she’d rather be surfing. So agreeing to be the surrogate for her best friend is a no-brainer—after all, she has an available womb and no other attachments to worry about. Except…when everyone else, including her big sister, thinks she’s making a huge mistake, being pregnant is a lot lonelier—and more complicated—than she imagined.
Never the tallest, thinnest or prettiest sister, Ali is used to being overlooked, but when her fiancé sends his disapproving brother to call off the wedding, it’s a new low. And yet Daniel continues to turn up “for support,” making Ali wonder if maybe—for once—someone sees her in a way no one ever has.
But side by side by side, these sisters will start over and rebuild their lives with all the affection, charm and laugh-out-loud humor that is classic Susan Mallery.
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Have you guys ever heard of a “squeal attack”?
Yes? No?
Well, for those of you that said no…
Its very similar to a panic attack but better, like in a good way. Instead of freaking out and feeling like the world is ending, you just can’t stop squealing. I will admit that breathing can be an issue in both cases, but at least you’ll be happy while suffocating.
ANYWAYS…
I believe I suffered from at least 3, maybe 4 of those things while reading California Girls by the amazing Susan Mallery(pssst…that was a name drop). One of those times being while I was in the parking lot of my daughters school. Yup…I’m pretty sure the other parents were thinking I had completely lost my mind.
Not quite. Not yet. Maybe next week.
As always, with Susan’s books, I hugged my copy thoroughly at the end. It deserved it.
My only warning to other readers is that the first chapter is a hard one. But you’ll get through it…just like Finola, Zinnie and Ali did.
Bravo Susan. Still holding strong as my Favorite Author.
Note: I have voluntarily(imagine a little kid who REALLY knows the answer) read and reviewed an ARC of this title.
Happy reading!
Rating 5 Stars
This book is a stand alone, about three sisters who all get dumped on the same weekend. The oldest, Finola, is a morning talk show host in California, who is looking forward to a long overdue vacation to Hawaii with her husband, with the intention of also getting pregnant. However, minutes before she is to go on air for the final show of the season, he blindsides her with the news that he has been having an affair, and the woman that he has been with is Finola’s morning guest. With additional chutzpah, he tells her to cancel the Hawaii tickets, which amazingly she does. I think most of us would have gone anyway. Meanwhile, younger sister Zennie, has never felt any strong feelings to any of her dates, and the nice man that she has had a few dates with, realizes that she feels nothing for him, so breaks off with her. Finally youngest sister Ali, is supposed to get married in a couple months, but comes home to find her future brother-in-law waiting for her, to tell her that his brother Glen, a complete jerk, decided he doesn’t want to get married and when Daniel heard that he was just going to not show up at the altar, came to warn her. Since this is a Susan Mallery novel and not real life, everyone will come out ok at the end, if not where they or the reader expected them to be. As always the characters are engaging and the well written narrative, the journey, is why we read these books.
If you want to be late to work…pick up California Girls and start reading!! I thought I would read for about 10-15 minutes prior to leaving for work, the next time I looked up, 30 minutes had passed!! I always enjoy Susan Mallery’s books, but this time she has outdone herself!!
From the first few sentences, the reader is drawn into the lives of the three sisters, Finola, Zennie & Ali. Although I have never been dumped (thank heavens!!), due to Susan’s exquisite descriptions, I found myself sharing in the feelings of the sisters. This book has everything you want in a storyline; heroes, heroines, villains and tragedy ending in triumph!!
I would recommend this book and have already to all my reading friends. Great book to curl up beside the fire or enjoy in the sunshine!!
Mallery masterfully weaves a fabric from the threads of three sisters rebuilding themselves from the ashes of destroyed relationships. From shock and dismay to moving on with grace and love, readers will fall in love with each of these realistic characters and their stories that entwine into a beautiful women’s fiction novel. This is one to share with friends.
I highly recommend this book to fans of the women’s fiction genre.
I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. I enjoyed reading about the 3 sisters and their journey to happiness. I think most people would enjoy this book if they are a fan of Ms. Mallory. That being said, I did not think this book was a great as Ms. Mallory’s previous books.
Susan Mallery is one of my favorite authors. All of her books are automatic one-clicks for me. California Girls tells the story of three sisters, all going through their own life-changing experiences. Although Finola was my favorite sister towards the beginning of the book, by the end of it, Ali had my heart. A very thought-provoking tale of self-discovery, strength and finding true love where you least expect it. This is one of my new favorites and I can’t wait to add it to my bookshelf!
This is a wonderful new women’s fiction book about three sisters who go through a difficult time and find happiness and acceptance on the other side. These sisters could not be more different, but all experience a break up at about the same time. As they are different they also handle things differently. Susan Mallery does a great job developing her characters and these sisters are funny and lovable. She also keeps the pace going in the story. I actually had a hard time putting it down. A wonderful story!
Absolutely refreshing and definitely a keeper! Three sisters who couldn’t be more different all have life changing events on the same day. Finola, the oldest, is a morning show host and her husband tells her he is having an affair moments before she goes on air. Zennie breaks up with her boyfriend but decides to become a surrogate for her friend who cannot have a baby. Ali, the youngest, is planning her wedding but a couple months before the wedding her fiance calls it off but he doesn’t do it, he sends his brother to do it. BAM! All three sisters are suddenly single and starting over but they come together for each other. This was such a beautifully written story I found myself laughing out loud one minute and shedding a tear the next as I was swept up in their lives. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and found myself carrying this book from room to room because I couldn’t put it down. This is definitely a recommendation from me!
Finola, Zennie, and Ali are sisters who are each experiencing changes in their lives. I love these characters because they are real, have flaws, and learn how to deal with their situations the best they know how. These characters were engaging, and I even grew to enjoy their mother who pulled no punches, but who also had an interesting life. Their growth and strength was inspirational. This story flowed, and kept me engaged from beginning to end.
Great story about 3 sisters. All three sisters have a major upheavel in their lives. Suddenly Finola’s perfect marriage isn’t so perfect, Ali’s fiancée has his brother break up with her just a few weeks before the wedding and Zennie decides to help her friend have a baby by becoming a surrogate. They each are learning things about themselves, sometimes it is good and sometimes it isn’t. Their mother isn’t much help through all their trials and they grow closer to each other in the process of finding themselves.
Another great book from Susan Mallery. This is they story of 3 sisters and their stories of stuggles and growth. Finola’s husband cheats on her, Zinnie is asked to be a surrogate and Ali’s fiancé calls off the wedding about 5 weeks before the wedding. This is a great book about life and learning from you experiences and moving forward. There is romance in this book but not the main focus. It is definitely worth the read.
So instead of doing what I was supposed to be doing today I was sucked right into Susan Mallery’s world! I am internally grateful she shares the characters in her imagination with us!
This is the story of three sisters who all break up on the same week. We get to see them grow in their lives; personally, professionally & emotionally! The feels in this story are amazing! I laughed, cried, cringed, cheered & just flat out fell in love! A MUST read!
I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest!
It was a great emotional book!
This is the story of three sisters that suffered a breakup on the same weekend.
Is this a coincidence or what ?
Ali’s fiance does not even have the balls to tell her to her face.
He sends his brother instead.
Daniel is much better than what’s his face.
( Ali should totally hook up w/ Daniel instead. )
Finola finds out about the husband’s affair.
Of course, she throws him to the curb.
When the boyfriend breaks up w/ Zennie, she doesn’t even feel a thing about it.
Was that a good thing or a bad thing ?
This is more than just about the break up.
It is what happens next.
It is about how each of them dealt w/ the break up.
How they cope and grown from it. It is not the end.
Life does go on.
Loved the characters + the storytelling!
It has all the ingredients that you need for a great book!
I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
This is about 3 sisters who get dumped on the same weekend. It’s sweet, sad, funny
and wonderful. This was a true page turner. I loved every word.
Finola, Zennie and Ali, three sisters who will suffer through life changing events and learn so much about love and life. Ali is busy working and planning the wedding of her dreams. Zennie is not interested in being a “couple”, but has her exciting life as an operating room nurse and a great group of friends. Finola has her own local television show and is planning her trip to Hawaii with her husband where she will tell him that she is ready for them to start a family. In one week, their lives will implode in unexpected ways. Ali is stunned when her future brother-in-law arrives to tell her that his brother, her fiancé wants out of the wedding. Zennie will be asked by her best friend, who is unable to have children, to be a surrogate for her and her husband. Finola will find out in the most-cruel way that her husband is having an affair…with a much younger pop star. A wonderful, heartwarming story about the way the three sisters deal with their changed lives. Will they be strong enough to survive their challenges? Whenever I read a Susan Mallery novel, I “sigh” when I finish the book and want to read it all over again. Another masterpiece by an author that takes you through every emotion possible. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
I give this 3.5 stars. I found this book was slow to start. I feel this way because I couldn’t connect with Finola and just wanted to read past her part in the beginning. I could relate to Zennie more though I could never do what she did, more props to her for that. It was interesting to read the different sisters and how each felt with their own lives and within the family. This is a decent chick lit book.
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
Susan Mallery writes down to earth stories about families and their relationships. This book is a must read! In this book she is writing about three sisters & their mother. The sisters are going through their own personal issues. You see how they work things out on their own and how they come together even though they have issues with each other. You laugh, cry and scream at these women.
Great story of 3 sisters and their trials and strength to overcome. This is a must read ladies! One of Susan Mallery’s best. You will find plot twist and unexpected results.
Loved this book. Three sisters who are all dumped on same weekend. Finola by her husband who is having an affair. Zennie, the guy who she has been seeing left her and Ali, whose fiancé calls off the wedding just weeks before the big day. They are all different but do stand behind each other. Interesting things happen.. Love book
Susan Mallery is one of my go-to authors. I can’t wait for her next book, but then I’m sad when it’s finished. California Girls was classic Mallery with humor and heart and a storyline that meant you just wanted to keep reading. I highly recommend not starting this right before you go to bed…if you want to get any sleep.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.