I received this book from TLC Book Tours in exchange for my review.
Many of Susan Mallery’s books seem to focus on a group of 3 sisters and their mother, and California Girls is no exception. I enjoy reading the stories of women making their ways through their varying life experiences and the ways that their experiences strengthen their bonds with each other.
“The California sunshine’s not quite so bright for three sisters who get dumped in the same week…
Finola, a popular LA morning-show host, is famously upbeat until she’s blindsided on live TV by the news that her husband is sleeping with a young pop sensation who has set their affair to music. While avoiding the tabloids and pretending she’s just 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.”
The one thing that bothered me about this story was that the unique names Finola and Zennie were never explained! Finola is apparently an Irish name and Zennie has to be a nickname for something – but what?? Ok, moving on. I liked reading the stories of the sisters and their journeys to independence. For Finola, it was from her husband, for Zennie, it was from those who gave her a problem about her decision to become pregnant, and for Ali it was from her parents. The support they each found from each other and the ways each story concluded were my favorite parts of the book.
What have you been reading lately?
