Sisters by Choice: A Novel (Blackberry Island, 4) Paperback – February 11, 2020

This one of Susan's stories that really keeps you reading.There are three women who are sisters by choice rather than by blood. Sophie who has lost everything when her business burned to the ground. Kristine whose husband leavers her because she is starting her own business. And then there is Amber who blames the world and anyone close for all the woes in her life.Sophie comes back to Blackberry Island to restart her business. She is a control freak and has a problem letting her employees do their jobs. She learns a thing or two about management from the employees and friends on the IslandKristine finds the burden of a failed marriage is hard to handle. She was blindsided when Jaxsen walked out on her. She thinks about giving up on her dream of her business but the women in her life encourage her to keep going. Understanding and trust brings back everything she has lost.Amber is bitter to the end. She always sees the glass half full and never takes responsibility for her own actions. Heather, Amber's daughter is 20 and caught up in her Mothers neediness. When her boss tells her to move on and get a life off the Island, Heather is left thinking maybe. Then when Amber throws her out she does some research to go to the mainland to college, but Elliot surprises her with the tuition paid and a place to live to go to USC. Heather takes him up on the offer and is off to LA. It was hard for her to walk away from her mother but her mothers bitterness gave her the courage to go.The women in this book face real problems and some find answers. Susan is a writer with a flair for putting characters with real problems in a story that is believable and emotional.What a wonderful book.

Susan Mallery brings all the feels with Sisters by Choice. I'm in love with this book. I love how each of the ladies go through so much change and get stronger from it. Sophie you just feel for her as she is starting all over back in her home town. She has her family around her but it's both for the good and well not exactly bad but close too it. You will see what I mean as you read this one because I'm not going to say more on it. I love how she changes from the control freak workaholic to an almost more relaxed and balanced person. She has a lot of help along the way with this one and you will just love Dugan for her. Then there is Kristine. She is this fabulous mom who is just trying to add more to her life. The struggle she goes through you feel in your heart. You want to yell and scream at her husband Jaxsen at times too. You get the whole picture as you read on and I love how Susan Mallery gives you the full picture slowly. You will just love how everything comes together. Lets not forget. Heather and her mother Amber. You just want to take Heather in your arms and tell her it is okay to go. I love the changes in Heather and with the support from Kristine and Sophie she grows so much. Amber you just want to say grow up already. But I think most of us can relate to knowing someone like Amber from somewhere. This book is all family and the trials of the ups and downs. The support and the bond these ladies have is truly amazing. I loved this book so much and couldn't put it down. I love everything Susan Mallery throws at us.

Sister’s By Choice is a story about cousins…and so much more. Sophie, Kristine and Heather are the sister by choice in the title, although Heather’s mother, Amber, is really the one Sophie and Kristine grew up with. Amber is a treasure and definitely needed to the storyline but know she was a character I loved to hate.I won’t retell the story but I will tell you the parts I loved. Sophie has lost everything she has in the world, or so she thinks, but it is her sister-family that helps ground her and help her start again. And then she meets Dugan… In her mind, he upends every business decision she’s ever made…with facts, dang it! And she’s not sure how to categorize him and put him in a box that she, of course, defines. He doesn’t fit in one, nor does he stay there when Sophie tries to fit him in one, and it drives her insane. He does it all with a smile, and love.Kristine and her husband, Jaxsen have a great life and family, if only Kristine would stay in her own lane – of Jaxsen’s choosing, of course. Truthfully, they have issues that you can picture happening to you and that’s what is so perfect about their story. They are relatable and loving but just hitting a rough patch where they need to communicate in order to move forward. I LOVED Kristine and how strong she is, even at her most vulnerable. Over my many years, I’ve been there myself so I understand and admire her character.And Heather. Hooboy! Amber, her mother, is a giant piece of work. Again, most of us can put ourselves in Heather’s shoes to feel as trapped and helpless as she does. She is a fighter, though, and it is with the support of her cousins and some great business mentors that she grows. I’m not sure I would have found the inner strength to change my life (at her age). Took me a few years more…All in all, to me, Sisters By Choice is a coming of age story that really will draw parallels with your own life. It is a heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking, laugh-out-loud, snarky humor book that you will be glad that you read.

I highly recommend this book. The characters are realistic, with issues and internal conflict that drive this heartwarming and feel-good story. I confess this book consumed my attention, eliminated my social life, and shortened my sleeping time until I finished.

Sisters By Choice is about relationships and family. Heather h as an awkward relationship with her mother, who is selfish and always complaining. Kristine and her husband, Jaxson have been married for 16 years, but have a misunderstanding that almost derails their marriage. Kristine manages to resolve the issues and have a better relationship with her husband. Sophie is a control freak and finds it hard to let go and allow other people to do their jobs. When she meets Dugan she just wants a casual relationship. Dugan wants more and waits patiently for Sophie to come to the realisation that she loves him too. When all their issues are resolved the cousins find fulfilment and living relationships.

Great summer read

The dialogue is awful and the characters are so unlikeable. The plot is good though! I kept reading because the author does have engaging story lines, but Sophy’s dialogue is so rude and just awful, it was hard to read. I had to imagine a vulnerable expression (maybe a really great smile with dimples that flashed when she said those rude statements, and a self-deprecating tone?) during her sections of the book because it’s totally unbelievable that anyone would spend any time with her, including family but especially the love interest, super successful and wise Dugan. It’s also hard to believe Heather, a straight A college student who is 20 years old and a very hard worker, would consistently fail her work assignments. Yes university is great but millions of people who graduate from university still have to learn on the job and higher learning is certainly not a miracle mystery formula for success. Anyway, I enjoyed the book even though I cringed at the key premises.

What a lovely book,one of those you don't want to put down.One I could happily read again at some point,when I can sit and read it in one go.