The Stepsisters by Susan Mallery

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The Stepsisters by Susan Mallery

Genre: Women’s Fiction | 416 Pages | Published: May 25, 2021 by MIRA

Book Jacket Synopsis:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery pens a love story of a different sort…a heartfelt tale of friendship between two women who used to be sisters.

Once upon a time, when her dad married Sage’s mom, Daisy was thrilled to get a bright and shiny new sister. But Sage was beautiful and popular, everything Daisy was not, and she made sure Daisy knew it.

Sage didn’t have Daisy’s smarts—she had to go back a grade to enroll in the fancy rich-kid school. So she used her popularity as a weapon, putting Daisy down to elevate herself. After the divorce, the stepsisters’ rivalry continued until the final, improbable straw: Daisy married Sage’s first love, and Sage fled California.

Eighteen years, two kids and one troubled marriage later, Daisy never expects—or wants—to see Sage again. But when the little sister they have in common needs them both, they put aside their differences to care for Cassidy. As long-buried truths are revealed, no one is more surprised than they when friendship blossoms.

Their fragile truce is threatened by one careless act that could have devastating consequences. They could turn their backs on each other again…or they could learn to forgive once and for all and finally become true sisters of the heart.

Book Links: Amazon

Review & Thoughts

The main themes of the novel includes an important reminder to check in with your spouse and make sure you’re both happy in the relationship. You can’t assume that your person is going to be able to read between the lines and you both need to make an effort to continue to keep the spark alive. It’s important to continue to find ways to make sure your spouse knows you love and care about them and sometimes the small things can make a big difference.

Another major theme touches on the fact that sometimes people who have experienced dysfunctional relationships find ways to push people away so they never have to worry about being hurt or messing up the relationship later on, which can create a never-ending cycle of hurt and heartbreak.

Themes: family ties, jealousy, marriage troubles, divorce, counseling, complex family drama, family money/inheritance, marrying for money vs love, disloyalty, cheating, loss, love; both romantic love and family love. Finding yourself and being true to yourself. Being vulnerable and allowing others into your life. Owning your mistakes and learning lessons from them. Counseling and getting help when you need it.

Overall I’d give The Stepsisters a 4.5 star rating. I loved the story, the writing style, the drama, and the sister connections. Great women’s fiction with a twist of romance. The relationships between the women and the relationships they had with their own mind was the true focus of their stories.

My Review Rating: ♥♥♥♥.5 | Recommend for: fans of women’s fiction, fans of Susan Mallery (duh!) and Kristin Hannah, fans of strong women’s fiction with focus on the female characters

Book Format & Source: Digital ARC via NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Any ARC editing errors noticed are assumed corrected prior to the final published copy release.

About Susan Mallery

#1 NYT bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives―family, friendship, romance. She’s known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages. Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her at SusanMallery.com.