2.5 Rating
Susan Mallery’s California Girls is a contemporary fiction that follows three sisters, who all get dumped by their men on the same week. All the bases are covered here: one sister was married, another was engaged to be married and another was dating. Anyone who has ever been through a breakup will find something to relate to in California Girls.
I went into this book looking forward to a quick, heartwarming story about the bond between sisters. After reading the synopsis, I thought that they would really rally around each other to recover from their individual heartbreaks. Even though there were moments where they briefly came together, I felt that there was such a distance between each character. Although this was to be expected considering their upbringing with self-centered parents, it brought a different reading experience than I anticipated.
There were aspects from each sister’s story that I enjoyed including: behind the scenes in the television industry with Finola, Ali’s character development and Zennie’s friendship with Bernie. However I found the climax of events to be incredibly predictable.
Unhealthy diet, eating habits and body image were depicted in a way that I found problematic as it felt as if they were being justified instead of discouraged.
California Girls did keep my attention and had moments that were enjoyable, however I wasn’t able to connect with the characters and the plot as I hoped I would.

This was a good book but it didn't completely work for me. I really loved one of the sister's stories but the other two never really came together for me (Ali worked for me and the others were fine but didn't grab me like Ali's did). It's not that it's not worth reading - it is a solid read but it's difficult for me to give more than 3 stars with 2/3 of the storyline didn't grab me. I kind of wished the entire book had been about Ali's story with her sister's stories taking a smaller focus of the book. I still recommend it especially for a day by the pool or on the beach.

California Girls by Susan Mallery is the story about three sisters, Finola, Zinnie, and Ali. I enjoy stories about sisters, because I was raised with three brothers and no sisters. I absolutely loved this book It hooked me in from the first page. It was filled with drama and emotional roller coasters. Perfect for a beach or vacation read. I recommend this book and will be reading more by this author.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.

Family saga at it's best! The latest from Susan Mallery has us knee deep into this family's drama from the very first few pages ... and loving it! She weaves a complex story line depicting each sisters life and the trials and tribulations they are all going through at the same time. Normally close and supportive, they find themselves straying and not being as happy go lucky with each other at the moment. A clingy, self-righteous mother tops off the cast and brings yet another perspective into an already chaotic life. I really enjoyed the book!

Finola Corrado thinks she's living the dream. She's basking in her own glory and about to embark on a grand vacation with her adoring husband when it all explodes in her face just before she's about to go on live television. Her husband drops the bombshell on her that he's been adoring someone else, and she's literally steps away from interviewing the pop sensation trollop on her talk show!

Zennie Schmitt loves her solo life and just can't understand why people keep harping on her to become part of a couple. When the guy she's been casually dating wants to move forward with her, she fails to keep the disdain from her face and he ends up dropping her quicker than she can turn around instead. She's going to concentrate on just enjoying life for a chance ... and what better way than agreeing to be a surrogate for her best friend and help her achieve her life's dream ... only she has no clue how lonely and difficult it's going to be when her family support system doesn't agree with her decisions.

Ali Schmitt was on the the cusp of the happiest time of her life seven weeks before her wedding when it all comes crumbling down. Her loser fiancee sends his brother to break it off with her ... right after invitations have gone out! She has always felt like Daniel disapproved of her as a mate for his brother, but he's being really great in helping her pick up the pieces and cancel this wedding. As time goes by, she starts to wonder if the wrong brother was in her sights the whole time!

A perfect beach read featuring three sisters, Finola, Annie and Alli, all facing breakups in different ways. Finola appeared to have the perfect life, while Zennie was not interested in a relationship, and Alli was about to be married. The sisters’ relationship evolves as they handle their crises. Enjoyable and light.

Sisters through thick & Then till the very end.

Fiona is a driven woman, who put a family to the back of her mind, now that she wants a baby is it a Little too late?
After her world is shaken, after the wreaking ball named Mary inter her life, can Fiona bounce back?

Ali is the middle child, she is who she is because of herself. Ali discovered she almost made the biggest mistake of her life.As the middle child, Ali felt she meant the least to her mother. Can they heal the riff between them?

Zennie is a OR nurse, with a smart head on her shoulders. She did not need a male in her life to be happy. Imagine her surprise when her life gets turned upside down.

Together they are sister’s, friends and enemies at times, but family love gets them through. All three stories have a bit of a twist that I did not see coming, which I think was great. I adored their mom, but I had my moments where I was like,”Really?”. I have to admit being a mom of just girls, I would be in the same boat. *snickers*

Ms. Mallery has captured the whole sister dynamics , the feelings of being the oldest, middle and youngest child . How they feel about each other, it’s wonderful makes me wished I had a sister instead a brute of brothers. Mary Jo and Fiona are identical. I will admit they were the hardest to like in this story. Once I started this book, I read it from beginning to end, of course I have to admit that is the way I am with all books from Susan Mallery. California Girls is a wonderful feel good read that will having you cheering in the end.

Rated 5 Stilettos by Deb!

I have read in the past books from this author and loved them!This was another great read!California Girls is all about starting over. I loved these sisters even though at times they frustrated me with their choices.But overall it was fun and heartwarming.

DNF:

After this I've realized Ms. Mallery is no longer my cup of tea. I think my tastes have just changed too much. Thank you for the opportunity but I am moving on from this author and her books. I won't be posting to GR or Amazon since this is most definitely a me not you type of thing.

Rating does not reflect my thoughts. Obligated to rate by NetGalley.

A chick lit book that's tops. Susan Mallery has succeeded with another book that hits all the emotional buttons. The coincidences at the beginning were unusual, but they provided the seeds for a wonderful story. The characters were well-developed an it was good to see how they continued to grow, and grow together. I recommend this book.

Another wonderful story by Mallery. Sisters may not all live in the same manner, but in the end they are always there for one another. Looking forward to her next book.

Truly enjoyed this book. entertaining plot, characters I actually liked, and a satisfying ending. I look forward to more books by this author.

I really, really want to love Susan Mallery, but California Girls is the third book of hers I've read, and I have finally realized why her books are always just okay reads. California Girls (like her other novels) has great female characters, who are interesting and whose journeys I want to follow, but her male mcs are so...flat. They are all rugged but not too rugged, damaged but fixable (by one of our heroines, natch) and they are, well, boring! Everything about their journey is as predictable as they are, and that weakens the book. And California Girls, in spite of this, still manages to have enough momentum to be a good read until the end, which feels both too rushed and too neat. I think Susan Mallery fans will love this, but until her main male mcs aren't so cardboard like, so trope laden that they have no personality. I can't say that others (,like me) will.

Let me first say how much I adore Susan Mallery. There is something so special about her characters in her books that are just so charming to read. California Girls was no exception. It was fun, makes you want to grab some kleenex at times and makes you so jealous not to be one of their sisters.

The summary gives a great foundation of what to look forward to in the book. It was really that and some. The one thing I absolutely loved was the sisterhood. What I loved was these ladies were in different places and phases of life but when it came down to family, that was most important. Mom was a bit over the top sometimes, especially considering she favorite one over the other but she added some spice to the mix.

I loved the balance of each character being able to experience their own journey and came through on the other side on their own time. Each person and their story was equally important no matter what they went through. I couldn’t put this one down. This was so much fun to read and you get to dabble into The Summer of Sunshine & Margot!

Overall, awesome characters, up and downs that make you feel like one of the gals, and a great takeway of the importance of being there for one another and at the end of the day, the most important thing in life is family. I’m recommending adding this one to your reading pile.

What a fun read. This book had everything you want in a romance. Cheating, heartbreak, strong characters, great friends... Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Mallery breaks away from her Happily Inc series to bring us this story of three very different sisters who get dumped in three different ways in one very ugly week. I liked something about each of this sisters, even though Finola was narcissistic, Zennie was so carefree and careless, and Ali got a new guy that seemed way too good to be true. I enjoyed watching the sisters grow closer and learn how to love each other best. Nice story about families, with a “perfect” sensitive alpha male thrown in for good measure.
NetGalley provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Three sisters all going through their own issues in their lives but somehow find themselves on the happier side when the dust settles. I enjoyed reading this book and found it to be engaging.

Susan Mallery has done it again by giving us another fantastic novel!

CALIFORNIA GIRLS is a touching story about 3 sisters whose lives get turned upside down one by one. Follow them each on their own journey of love, loss, and finding out who they really are inside.

I truly loved reading this story and couldn't put it down!

*Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin-Mira for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

On the same day sisters Finola, Zennie and Ali all have relationships end. Finola's husband is having an affair with a famous singer, Zennie is not surprised when her friend Clark dumps her as she is just not in to him, and Ali's finance ends their engagement two weeks before the wedding. Zennie makes a big decision that doesn't get much support from her family. As a popular AM talk show host Finola tries to keep her devastation a secret while Ali is helped remendously by her financee's brother. Each sister takes a hard look at themselves as they begin to heal and grow closer together. A fun, engaging story full of emotion and laughs.Loved it.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book about three sisters all dumped on the same weekend. The sisters are all so different and their situations and circumstances definitely make for interesting reading. Warning - You will not want to put this book down until the end.

This is the best book so far this year. Not a chic lit rom comedy. A thoughtful contribution to women fiction which could be someone’s non fiction situation. A fantastic look at feelings of mother-daughter(s), sister-sister(s), daughter-father, daughter-stepfather, husband-wife, and friends all wrapped up with opinions and actions. All with a feel good conclusion and the questions what would I do?