#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery masterfully explores the definition of a modern family–blended by surprise, not by choice–and how those complicated relationships can add unexpected richness to life. “Heartwarming…this book is sweet and will appeal to readers who enjoy the intricacies of family drama.”–Publishers Weekly Life is meant to be savored, but that’s not easy … savored, but that’s not easy with no family, limited prospects and a past you’d rather not talk about.
Callie Smith doesn’t know how to feel when she discovers she has a brother and a sister–Malcolm, who grew up with affection, wealth and privilege, and Keira, a streetwise twelve-year-old. Despite her trepidation, she moves into the grand family home with her siblings and grandfather on the shores of Lake Washington, hoping just maybe this will be the start of a whole new life.
But starting over can be messy. Callie and Keira fit in with each other, but not with their posh new lifestyle, leaving Malcolm feeling like the odd man out in his own home. Becoming a family will take patience, humor, a little bit of wine and a whole lot of love. But love isn’t Malcolm’s strong suit…until he learns that an open heart, like the family table, can always make room for more.more
This book was great it had me laughing and crying both. I love books that do that. They get you right in the feels. This is a great book to read anytime or anywhere.
I enjoyed this book and the concept behind it, how a family can be built from half siblings that never knew about each other. Lots of trials and tribulations but in the end things work out for them all. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that enjoys Susan Mallery books.
I read all of her books for entertainment and strong female characters. Plots are well dedined. There is always humour and romances
I believe that this book is classified as “Romance”. While Susan Mallery most often writes romance books, I think this book should be classified as “Woman’s Fiction”. Most of the several plots do not revolve around romance. They revolve around the lives of woman and the people in their lives. The main theme of the story is the making of a family from people that have not met each other until recently when it was discovered that they have the same father, who abandoned all three of his children.
There are several deeply emotional subjects that are dealt with. I do not want to include spoilers, so I will not write more about them, except to say that I do not think any of the subjects would be disturbing to a reader. Susan Mallery in her usual calming manner of telling a story, lets you work out the emotions and the story comes to a conclusion that will cause your heart to overflow with love.
The characters are all different from other books by Susan that I have read. After writing so many books, I find that extraordinary that she can create fully formed new fictional people for each book. The interactions with the characters were believable and I soon forgot it was a book and I was immersed in the world of extended Alberto’s Alfresco family.
The main theme of belonging was throughout the book. As the story unwinds, a family by blood is found and united, but also a family of the character’s own choosing also develops. I am a strong believer that family are the people you chose to have in your life, they can be of blood but also are the close friends you have made during your life that love and support you.
I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful book by Susan Mallery and I am wondering what is in the future for the characters now that their written story is over. I can imagine their future and I hope it is so much brighter than their past has been.
This was an amazing story and I recommend it highly. If you are a fan of Susan Mallery, I know you will totally enjoy this book. If you have not read her books, or in the past did not like them due to them being a “Romance” book, please give this one a try. It is more focused on the uniting of a family, more than the uniting of a couple. 🙂
These characters are unforgettable and engaging. They all grow into a family; however, at the start, that didn’t seem feasible. This book grabs you from the start and engages your heart and makes you want to find out what happens to each character. The grandfather is precious! I want him in my family!!!
Family is something we all take for granted. Their the people that will always be there, no matter what. What happens when family is not an option? When We Found Home is how to create a family out of nothing. Susan Mallery takes us through broken hearts, first meetings and slowly built bonds through the eyes of three strangers. Callie has not had an easy life. No family, limited choices and at times no hope. The irony is her ability to stay on the bright side despite the pain of her existence. Imagine her surprise when she finds out, she’s not alone in the world. She has a family that she never knew, but is falling apart. Can she be the glue that bonds them all? Count on Mallery to tug at your heart strings while making you laugh and inspiring your soul. Family is not always a product of blood. It’s a bond that is built on courage, risk faith and love.
This was a different type of book Susan Mallery usually writes. The plot is about Malcolm Carelesso who, is the CEO of his Grandfather Alberto’s famous mail order catalog company who he turned into a big corporation. As a teenager, Malcolm and his mother came to live with his Grandfather and father at his Grandfather’s insistence. His father was not a very good person or role model who left two other children fatherless. I didn’t understand why it started with Delaney the barista, whose job was housed in the family building. This story was about Malcolm’s Grandfather who was looking for two more children fathered by his son Jerry. Callie, at eighteen had robbed a store with her then boyfriend was convicted and sent to prison. She had been out for three years, and was having a hard time living with a felon conviction. Keira, a 12 year old, they found living in foster care.
Thankfully the Grandfather found them both when they needed assistance. I wish Susan would have wrote more about Keira’s and Delaney’s story. I felt a lot of information about Malcolm and Grandfather Alberto was left out. Delaney was very lackluster and always feeling sorry for herself and so indecisive. Maybe there was just too many characters to keep up with. I still enjoyed this book.
Sometimes the hardest thing in the world to do is figure out how to get to know your family. Such is the case in Susan Mallery’s latest When We Found Home. Malcom, Callie, and Kiera are all half-siblings that don’t develop a relationship until later in life. As with any new relationship, there are definite ups and downs. Mallery has perfectly captured the turmoil of being a family in this novel. Her characters are relatable and people you definitely want to get to know more. I fell in love with this book from the first page.
I voluntarily reviewd an ARC of this novel.
Just finished the book and loved it. Sad though that I can’t be a sideline part of their family anymore. Characters were written as all humans are, each having strengths and weaknesses. Premise of the novel is really good!
I will start by saying…What an amazing story!!
This book is about 3 half siblings that were raised by 3 different mothers and not knowing their father.
Malcolm is the oldest and grew up with wealth and privilege after meeting his father at the age of 12. He is the heir to his father’s and grandfather’s successful business and living with his grandfather on the shores of Lake Washington. After the death of his father, his grandfather went on a quest to find any other children fathered by his only son.
Keira is a streetwise twelve-year-old and after being abandoned by her mother, winds up in foster care. Grandfather finds her, brings her to Lake Washington, and tries to help her adjust to having a family that loves her…and won’t abandon her.
Callie is the last one to be found and can’t believe she has a sister and a brother she has never met. At 26 years old…she lands in the middle and has a difficult time not only adjusting to her new family after being alone for so long, but also the posh new lifestyle in the family home. She has to learn to trust after a life of bad choices and soon realizes that starting over is easier with those you love.
I loved this story from the first page to the last.
This author once again, gives us a touching story of finding “home”. Siblings that didn’t know each other existed are brought together. The road to becoming a family is not easy, but one worth traveling.
The engaging plot and the complex characters, make this a book worth your time. At times heartbreaking, but at the end , a heartwarming story filled with forgiveness, love and the value of family.
Another winner by this talented author.
Family is complicated. Finding out you have two sisters will turn your world upside down. At its heart, When We Found Home is a story about strangers with only a father in common grow to become a true family and the journey it takes to build trust and love. From the moment you meet Malcolm, the handsome, wealthy business owner finding ways to flirt with the local barista, Delaney, you immediately realize how lonely he is. Out of obligation, he brings his two sisters to live with him, not completely recognizing that bravado on the outside hides the pain of abandonment, shame and the mistakes of youth.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which focused heavily on the family story and balanced the seriousness of those relationships with two couples finding their way to each other. I fell in love with Keira (age 13) and Callie (the grown sister) as I got more and more immersed in their stories and felt their desire to be loved, accepted and embraced while understanding that their pasts increase the risk of heartbreak.
Favorite Quotes:
He gave her a smile that would have melted a frozen planet.
She agreed with generous —he was that. As for kind, well, he was growing on her. Like the famous Seattle moss, she thought with a smile.
I’d offer to let you borrow one of mine, but you’re what, twenty pounds lighter, two inches shorter and yet you have bigger boobs. Why do I like you?
We’re going to deal with our heartaches the way God intended— with liquor, sugar, a movie and people we love.
You did everything right. And when you screw up, I promise to be just as gracious.
My Review:
I always look forward to reading Susan Mallery’s books, as her stories have never failed to please or satisfy. She is top shelf entertainment with engaging storylines full of feels, a full slate of endearingly lovable yet vulnerable and flawed characters, clever humor, witty banter, and sharply honed repartee. When We Found Home was well paced and adroitly plotted while equally balanced with levity and heart-squeezes. I was engaged and invested from beginning to end. The characters experience new love, second chances, discover and develop vital family connections, solve a mystery, and even save a precious kitten. Sigh, it was nirvana.
5 FUN EMOTIONAL STARS!! I LOVED this book, it had me smiling and loving every word. This book will hit all your emotion button and the characters are phenomenal and relatable. Susan Mallery writes with so much heart, love that the characters become part of you family. I highly recommend this book, it is so worth the money.
When We Found Home is a well written book with great characters, twists and turns, along with two couples falling in love. I liked the characters and enjoyed the storyline. You will laugh, cry, and cheer as you delve deeper into the story. I volunteered to review an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest
The characters + storytelling were very captivating
Family is so important
No matter what happens in your life, you know that you can count on your family for support.
It does not always happens, but when it does, you cherish it forever.
Callie thought that she was all alone.
Then she founds out that she had 2 half siblings.
Now what ?
” She got lemons, and now she is going to make lemonade ”
It was so interesting to read the interaction between the three siblings.
Will they be able to put aside their fears and really be a family ?
The storytelling + the character’s build were awesome!
It has all the ingredients that you need for a great book!
When We Found Home By Susan Mallery
This book is first about family finding each other. It is about learning to live with family that is new and getting to know each other and learning to trust each other. I really enjoyed the interactions between half siblings Malcolm, Callie and Kiera as they got to know each other and their grandfather Alberto. Then the book was a love story between Malcolm and Delaney and Callie and Santiago. There was lots of stuff going on in love interests lives as well the love story. I think that is why I really enjoyed this book. The fact that there was so many different issues dealt with. some not quite long enough but touched on. I read this book in 3 days of reading and just couldn’t put the book down. This book will make you laugh and it will make you cry. I would recommend to anyone looking for a good book to read.
This is a wonderful book about love and family. My emotions got a good workout in this beautifully written story.
Sometimes a family grows in the most unexpected ways and they let it, it can all of their hearts with so much contentment, peace, love and joy. This is a book about just that and I highly recommend it.
This book is filled with ALL THE FEELS! What would you do if you found yourself with no one but then suddenly you discover you have siblings you knew nothing about? This book brings together a family who were not raised together and now are getting to know each other. This is beautifully written with wonderful characters and a thrilling and heart filling story. I definitely recommend this one!
When We Found Home by Susan Mallery
The siblings starring in this story don’t know one another or even know of one another until their father dies and a few years later their grandfather, Alberto Carlesso, goes through his son’s belongings to find out that he has other grandchildren. Instead of just the one grandson Malcolm, that joined his grandfather when he was 12, Alberto finds he also has two granddaughters. Callie is in her twenties and has no family and she has a past she wants to put behind her. Keira is a preteen coming out of the foster system and filled with fears. When they all come together under the same roof the only thing they seem to have in common is their grandfather…oh…and their rather useless philandering father…and perhaps a similar smile that graces all of their faces.
At first things are rocky but as time passes the guards come down, communication occurs, grandfatherly love is abundant, a kitten is adopted, love interests emerge, problems at work are uncovered then resolved and a whole lot more happens.
This is a story of finding out who one truly is and what is most important in life. It is about family and friends and trust and caring and sharing and expectations (personal and external) and well…just a great book that was difficult to put down. I have to be honest that the first four chapters felt a wee bit slow but once past those I flew through the pages. I felt and cared and wished and hoped right along with each of them. There was one question I had and that was why Jeremy, the three half siblings father, was as worthless sounding as he was. Jeremy had a privileged life with what sounded to be perfect parents so…how did he turn up as he did? Other than that one quibble…I loved this story.
Thank you to Net Galley and HQN for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars