Title: The Stepsisters by Susan Mallery
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 400 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
#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.
Review:
The Stepsisters by Susan Mallery is a thought-provoking novel about family, forgiveness and self-discovery.
Daisy has her hands full between her job, two wonderful children and one checked out husband. So, the last thing she wants or needs is to reconnect with her former stepsister Sage or her half-sister Cassidy. At first, Daisy can ignore the fact Sage is back in town. However, this changes after her father asks her to allow Cassidy to stay with her while she recovers from a hiking accident. Suddenly Sage is around more often and both she and Cassidy are connecting with Daisy’s kids. Over the course of several weeks, Daisy, Sage and Cassidy move from an uneasy détente to a surprisingly close relationship. Their bond is tenuous and an unconscionable decision might destroy their newfound closeness.
Daisy and Jordan have been married for over a decade. She has no inkling he is unhappy until he abruptly moves out and refuses to tell her why. Although Daisy is willing to put in the work to save her marriage, a reconciliation is far from certain. With Cassidy in residence and Sage dropping by to spend time with her, their paths cross on a fairly regular basis. Daisy has every reason to be wary of both women, but she gradually lets down her guard. She is grateful for their support during such an uncertain period in her life.
During high school, Sage was popular but that did not stop her from deliberately hurting Daisy. After graduating, she impetuously leaves for Paris and continues living in various European countries. Three divorces later, Sage decides to return to Los Angeles to start over. Forced to live with her mother, Sage is working in a high-end boutique while she decides her future. She reconnects with Adam, an old friend whom she lost contact with long ago. Sage accepts responsibility for her previous behavior and she is trying to end her self-destructive impulses.
Cassidy is a bit immature when she first arrives at Daisy’s. But as she heals from her injuries, she enjoys getting to know her niece and nephew. Cassidy also starts to understand exactly what happened to destroy her relationship with Daisy when their father and her mother divorced. After a lifetime of running away, Cassidy has a decision to make about the man who loves her.
The Stepsisters is a heartfelt novel of healing, new beginnings and self-discovery. Daisy, Sage and Cassidy are well-drawn characters with untapped strengths and relatable flaws. The storyline is engaging with realistic issues and emotional baggage to overcome. Each of the characters undergo phenomenal growth as their relationship strengthens. Individually, they each begin to recognize and understand the motivation for their actions. Susan Mallery brings this family-centric novel to an uplifting and surprising conclusion.
