It’s not always sunny in Southern California especially for three sisters who all get dumped over a single weekend. Finola is a TV talk show host whose husband Nigel announces his affair with a young country-pop singer just minutes before she’s supposed to interview her live. Zennie. an OR nurse, is on a 4th date with Clark when he walks away after questioning her lack of enthusiasm and her sexual preference. Ali, the youngest and least attractive, hears the news of her broken engagement, not from the groom, but from his brother, Daniel. In the ensuing months, each one’s lives is on a trajectory of self-reflection, personal growth and wish fulfillment. The paths they take will either bring them together or tear their family apart.

Generally, Mallery’s books are filled with charming characters, strong, affectionate friendships, humor and some minor to major roadblocks to happily ever after. This was a less-than-successful departure from that formula. Most of the supporting characters were appealing, but the central family, including the judgmental and non-supportive parents, were defined by egocentrism, denial, or low self-esteem. Rather than eliciting eager expectations, the dialogue is anxiety-inducing and the story’s lack of depth makes it difficult to engage. Not Mallery’s best effort.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin Mira through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When you pick up a Susan Mallery book you are guaranteed a good read. California girls is about three sisters whose lives are about to change. Finola thinks she is happily married, she has decided now is the time to try for a baby with her husband. Just before she is due on air for her popular tv show, her husband announces he has been having an affair. To make matters worse the woman he is leaving her for, is who she has to interview live on air. Zennie is feeling lost like she is going through the motions of whats expected of her. Its not heartbreaking for her when her boyfriend calls it quits. The last sister Ali is busying preparing for her wedding, when the fiance's brother turns up. To tell her the wedding is off. Its such a cowardly move, then he leaves her to cancel everything.
Luckily Daniel the brother is a decent guy who sees she s struggling and sticks around to help. As Finola tries to keep her marriage fallout a secret. Zennie is asked by her best friend to be a surrogate. Ali is busy trying to find somewhere to live and cancel the wedding. As the sisters navigate through these changes they learn more about themselves and what they are willing to put up with. Out of adversity comes strength. Its important to remember that although change is hard, something better is on the horizon. Highly recommended for fans of contemporay romance. I requested this ARC from Net Galley. This is my honest review.

Three sisters get dumped within the same week. The married sister finds out her husband is having an affair with a TV star. One sister gets dumped 2 weeks before her wedding day. And the last sister gets dumped when the guy she's dating feels like a relationship is not going anywhere. All three sisters are feeling the pressure from their mother when she keeps stating that she wants grandchildren. Each of these sisters will find out things about themselves with regard to their relationships and how they really feel about them.

This book is a stand alone, about three sisters who all get dumped on the same weekend. The oldest, Finola, is a morning talk show host in California, who is looking forward to a long overdue vacation to Hawaii with her husband, with the intention of also getting pregnant. However, minutes before she is to go on air for the final show of the season, he blindsides her with the news that he has been having an affair, and the woman that he has been with is Finola's morning guest. With additional chutzpah, he tells her to cancel the Hawaii tickets, which amazingly she does. I think most of us would have gone anyway. Meanwhile, younger sister Zennie, has never felt any strong feelings to any of her dates, and the nice man that she has had a few dates with, realizes that she feels nothing for him, so breaks off with her. Finally youngest sister Ali, is supposed to get married in a couple months, but comes home to find her future brother-in-law waiting for her, to tell her that his brother Glen, a complete jerk, decided he doesn't want to get married and when Daniel heard that he was just going to not show up at the altar, came to warn her. Since this is a Susan Mallery novel and not real life, everyone will come out ok at the end, if not where they or the reader expected them to be. As always the characters are engaging and the well written narrative, the journey, is why we read these books.

I received a free advanced copy of this book from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Favorite Quotes:

Finola, we have models in the building. Tall, skinny, hungry models. They’re starting to look feral and turn on each other. I’m convinced it’s the smell of bacon.

… she alternated between trying to figure out a plan to win Nigel back and wondering if she could find a few anthrax spores to send him in the mail.

Finola told herself they weren’t deliberately cruel, they were just young and thoughtless. At least she hoped they were because otherwise the next generation was going to be a disappointment.

My Review:

I fell into this irresistible story and didn’t want to come back out. Susan Mallery has extraordinarily strong word voodoo. I was fully invested and right beside them or sitting in a corner watching as they bantered and argued. The storylines were deftly written and cleverly crafted with ample servings of levity and curiously addictive conundrums. Each character was uniquely compelling and so enticingly well drawn I could easily identify them in a police line-up. The mother was heinously shallow and possessed all the warmth and nurture of a rattlesnake and whose self-involvement was second only to her eldest daughter, Finola, who was a complete narcissist, although Finola had the wittiest quips of anyone. I adored Ali and Zennie, although my favorite character was the sweet and thoughtful Daniel and was totally besotted with him by the end of the book. Sigh, I want to clear off my TBR and only read Susan Mallery stories for the rest of my life.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

5 out of 5 stars
sweet and saucy

Another chick lit book by Susan Mallery, with characters full of personality and a bit of angst. I do enjoy the chick lit genre, Susan Mallery in particular, and this book, IMHO fulfills all the criteria. Read it for a bit of a laugh, a bit of a cry, and a bit of a scream to the characters, and a bit of a nodding -- yeah it's happened to me. Just read it.

Thanks to Harlequin-Mira and NetGalley, I had the opportunity to receive an ARC of California Girls, in return I'll give my honest review.

I just love Susan Mallery novels, so I got so excited with this one.

In California Girls, we'll meet three sisters: Finola, Zennie and Ali.
Finola is the oldest. Married for years with Nigel, a plastic surgeon. She is a famous morning show host in L.A.. And about to introduce another edition, and with the apparition of the greatest musical sensation of the moment, the pop singer Treasure, her husband appears on behind the curtains and reveals that he intends to leave her, since he is having an affair. And its not ALL. Shortly before Finola came to air, still shaken, Treasure reveals to Finola that she is the lover of her husband. Total disaster nd humiliation. However, they are thrusts for Finola to re-bond with her sisters, to quest her personality and review many of her actions in recent years.

Zennie is the middle one and have been daddy's girl. She does not care about pairing. Her mind is filled with hobbies, having fun with friends and dedication to work. Her mother is trying to set her up with dates because she has been obsessed with having grandchildren. And so she met Clark, who despite the few meetings, noticed that the girl is not in the same tune as him, so decides to break it. Usually, Zennie is the one who dismisses the guys. Clark got what he wanted, impressed her. However, before their paths cross again, Zennie decides to help her best friend, Bernie, who in recent years has dealt with a terrible disease. Since she wants to have children, Bernie asks Zennie to be her surrogate. Zennie would do everything for her friend, so accept
it. But she never imagined that the pregnancy would arouse a whirl of emotions, dealing with the negative reaction of people she loves, like her mother, and stay away from activities tha have always pleased her.

Ali is the little sister. With Finola being adored by mother, and Zennie, by father, she is the one who always felt invisible in her own family. And then Glen saw her, even came up with a marriage idea. But Glen was not all she had in mind; Ali's feelings were not all she had in mind. And she begins to discover this at the moment Daniel - Glen's brother - shows up at her door to inform her that the wedding is canceled. Glen simply said, that he did not intend to show up on the big day and would leave her at the altar. With good sense, Daniel decide to warn her and help. There is so much to suspend, that Ali does not know where and how to start and if she has enough guts for such an act. Daniel becomes a close friend, counselor, and is always giving her a high dose of esteem. Everything Ali always wanted and never had.

The three sisters still have a meeting at Mary Jo's home, the matriarch. She is moving and intends to hold a estate sale, to get rid of some objects. And fiddling with so much, will bring back many memories. Even a mysterious return. As mentioned, the mother is obsessed with the idea of having grandchildren and gets disappointed at every break-up announcement. But she also does not amused with Zennie's news. And like nothing in this family is enough, the relationship between her and Ali ends up shaking because of one of the objects tha has been in the family for years.

Unlike most of Mallery's novels, California Girls is a stand alone. The author always bring us another stories, focusing on oher couples in series, but in this one, she decides to use the pages to let every sister shine in their time. Her narrative presents us dramas, not only loving, but also it's about family. Some emotional issues - such as the issue of female self-esteem, with a dose of her known humor. They are very mature plots, especially about Finola, who must deal with betrayal and accept that part of what has happened is made up by some of her actions. It is something not only in the relationship with her husband, but also with her sisters.

As Zennie's personality connects more with mine, it's undeniable that my sympathy went all the way to her. The whole history of her pregnancy is beautiful and touching. It was sad to see-read that she had practically no support. I know, Ali supported her, but she had to deal with her own problems. Bernie is so euphoric about
the news that she eventually forgets a bit of the affection in friendship, and she becomes a kind of nutritionist, with lists and everything, appearing with all kinds of foods that Zennie hates.

As Zennie's personality connects more with mine, it's undeniable that my sympathy went all the way to her. The whole history of her pregnancy is beautiful and touching. It was sad to see-read that she had practically no support. I know, Ali supported her, but she had to deal with her own problems. Bernie is so euphoric about
the news that she eventually forgets a bit of the affection in friendship, and she becomes a kind of nutritionist, with lists and everything, appearing with all kinds of foods that Zennie hates. I loved how the author re-inserted Clark in the middle of this storyline.

On the other hand, Ali's plot brings us an expected romance, but we love Daniel's posture. The guy is a mozão! (like we say here in Brazil). She, who grew up with low esteem, eventually comes out of the invisible tone that has been given to herself over life. Even at work which she knows she is great, but she's just waiting, you know? She is a great sister, listens to them and always supports them. The lines focused on her, bring humorous scenes to the narrative.

But the drama also bothers with one construction, that is the mother. I felt sorry for the girls, the way she is so controlling and negative to them and how sometimes her mind is closed. Mary Jo worked at the theater, married twice, one with Finola's father and another with Zennie and Ali's father. When the narrative signals that she prefers to move to a more beach-side setting, I wondered if she was more relaxed person. So wrong. She and Finola have very similar personalities. Every time she hit the button for her grandchildren, I thanked God that my mother was not like that. Because I'm almost 30, and I'm super Zennie, kinda against relationships. My mind is as full of hobbies as hers.

And this case of thirties was that made me enjoy the reading a lot. As the age approaches, I feel it's a nice read for the moment. Although the three are more independent than I am - very sad, I know ha! -, have their jobs and their homes. I say, "homes", since two of them, at a certain moment of the novel, need to live with other people.

California Girls brings all the elements that the author's fans love, adding mature and bold issues. The author explores a lot of the connections between the pairs and characters, better than give us lot of pages with random sex. Seriously, I think I read just one scene and it was fast. Quite different from another book I read of hers years ago. And there's a character that ends well and alone.

Read it in e-book, was not the final version yet, but leads to a fluid and delicious reading. A novel with modern language and nice humor. I loved the cover, the three models represent the characters well, especially the fact that they have not forgotten that one of the sisters has short hair.

cheers from Brazil :*

Sunshine, Sisters, and second chances!

A fabulous story filled with fun and drama. Susan Mallery has crafted a brilliant story that will make you laugh, cry, and want to throw things! Three very different sisters faced with some major life choices, but side by side by side they can get through anything! Whenever I read a book about sisters I always get a little jealous, it is a relationship that I myself don’t have, but I can still experience it through books.

This book begins with one bad weekend, all three of the sisters get dumped. Finola hosts a television morning show. Her husband informs her right before she’s about to go on air that he is having an affair, now that’s some timing right? What a great guy! Ali is consumed with planning her wedding that is until her fiancé‘s brother shows up to let her know that her fiancé is too much of a wuss to tell her he’s calling off the wedding. Another great guy! Zennie Who is pretty content being single is dumped by a guy she just recently started dating. His reason? He realizes that she’s not all that into him and she isn’t really looking for a relationship. OK fair enough, he actually might be a good guy. After this weekend the sisters are left to pick up the pieces of their lives and are also face with some unusual unique and life altering choices.

The story was told with charm and heart, and I really loved the humor sprinkled throughout. The serious subject matter of infidelity and surrogacy was handled with a compassionate yet realistic hand. The sisters were all very likable, very relatable, and at times very frustrating. I loved the sister bond as well as the relationship the girls had with their mother. Ali was probably my favorite sister and I was so invested in her happily ever after. I am a sucker for a good second chance story and this one was fab! Definitely recommend!

🎧🎧🎧 Tanya Ebi, did a wonderful job with the narration she gave each sister their own unique voice. She also did a really good male voice, seriously there were times I forgot it was a woman speaking. Another fabulous audiobook experience!

🎵🎵🎵 Song Running Through My Head
Greetings loved ones
Let's take a journey
I know a place
Where the grass is really greener
Warm, wet n' wild
There must be something in the water
Sippin' gin and juice
Laying underneath the palm trees
(Undone)
The boys
Break their necks
Try'na to creep a little sneak peek
(At us)
You could travel the world
But nothing comes close
To the golden coast
Once you party with us
You'll be falling in love
Ooh oh ooh oh oh ooh
California girls
We're unforgettable
Daisy dukes
Bikinis on top
Sun-kissed skin
So hot
We'll melt your popsicle
Ooh oh ooh
Ooh oh ooh
California girls
We're undeniable
Fine, fresh, fierce
We got it on lock
West coast represent
Now put your hands up... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F57P9C4SAW4

*** many thanks to Harlequin Books and Harper Audio for my copies of this book ***

Susan Mallery is one of my favorite authors. All of her books are automatic one-clicks for me. California Girls tells the story of three sisters, all going through their own life-changing experiences. Although Finola was my favorite sister towards the beginning of the book, by the end of it, Ali had my heart. A very thought-provoking tale of self-discovery, strength and finding true love where you least expect it. This is one of my new favorites and I can't wait to add it to my bookshelf!

What’s It About?
The relationship between sisters is cantankerous at times. That is certainly the case in the latest Susan Mallery novel “California Girls”. In this story, we meet three sisters. Finola, the oldest, is an LA morning-show host who seems to have it all. A great job, a nice house, and a wonderful marriage. Or as it turns out, two of three. When her husband blindsides her by telling her that he has been having an affair, her world turns upside down. Her perfect life is in shambles.
Zennie is the typical tomboy, and her father’s favorite. An avid runner, surfer, surgical nurse, and friend. She has no desire to wear makeup, or dresses, nor does she have the desire to settle down. So, when the guy she is casually seeing breaks up with her, it’s no big loss. She doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about. When asked by her best friend for help, Zennie’s life is suddenly not her own and creates a rift in many of the relationships that she holds dear.
Ali is the typical Jan Brady sibling. She never felt like she was the favorite with either parent. She wasn’t the tallest, prettiest, thinnest, or most special of the three sisters. With her wedding just around the corner, she is shell-shocked when her fiancée cancels the wedding, and leaves her picking up all the pieces. What seemed to be a tragedy turns out to be a blessing, as she begins to discover who she truly is.
All three sisters are dumped in the same weekend, crushing their mother’s not-so-hidden dreams of having a grandbaby. While often self-absorbed, their mother has decided to down-size from her current house, to that of a condo, forcing the sisters to help sort through the clutter.
What’s The Verdict?
I loved this story. My only wish is that I could have gotten “more” with each sister. I almost wish this could have been a weird kind-of series. One book for each sister prior to their simultaneous breakup with guest cameo’s; one book about their breakups, where they were more intertwined; and then another book for each sister about their lives afterwards. I have so many questions about each sister that was left unanswered. I didn’t want the story to end, which in my opinion is the sign of a great story-teller. This is certainly the case with Susan Mallery.
I would give this book a 5 star rating.
I was given an advanced copy of this story from Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review. It has in no way impacted my opinion.

A must read for fans of Susan Mallery. If you have never read anything by her this is a good one to start with. Great story line, interesting characters. It pulls you in as only Susan Mallery can.

California Girls is the story of sisters , Ali,Zennie, and Finola. All three sisters are going through different life struggles at the same time. While dealing it teiroq. Issues they are also trying to help their mother move out of their childhood home. While each dealing with things in their own way they are forming a stronger bond with each other.
As typical Susan Mallery, this book takes you on an emotional roller coaster. It was very hard to put down.
I received a copy of California Girls for my honest opinion.

I give this 3.5 stars. I found this book was slow to start. I feel this way because I couldn't connect with Finola and just wanted to read past her part in the beginning. I could relate to Zennie more though I could never do what she did, more props to her for that. It was interesting to read the different sisters and how each felt with their own lives and within the family. This is a decent chick lit book.



*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

Received an ARC for an honest review.

I'll never know how an author does this - makes characters so completely three dimensional that you have no problem siding with them, hating them, rooting for them, whatever the author has in mind. Mallery is a master at that and California Girls is the latest example of her mastery.

Finola, Zennie, and Ali are three sisters who are about as different as can be, other than the fact that they're all dumped on the same weekend. As they lick their wounds and start to move on in their lives, they're each forced to question the person they've become.

I've got to be honest - for me, Finola was awful. I felt terrible for what happened to her, but then she was not a great person. Would Mallery be able to get Finola back in my good graces? I don't want to give any spoilers, but by the time I finished the book, I wanted more of their story. I wanted to know what came next. Even though we got a 6-months-later epilogue, it wasn't enough. I wanted to see what these sisters were able to make of their lives after a year, two years, 10 years. But that's what Mallery does - makes a world full of characters that you hate to say good-bye to.

Another stellar read by Susan Mallery...no wonder I'm a fangirl.

This was an enjoyable read. It’s a story of three sisters all going thru some big life changes. It was funny & sad. Makes me a little happy I don’t have sisters.

This isn't my normal choice of novel, but I really enjoyed the change of pace. It was light, a nice, easy read. I read it quickly while I was in the hospital, and it kept my mind off my surgery and discomfort, so that says SOMETHING in itself. I'll definitely recommend it as a beach or road trip novel.

Susan Mallery is one of my go to authors for a feel good story! This book was no exception! Not just a romance, this book was aslo about family. I loved the relationship between the sisters and how they supported each other through their breakups. Though I liked all their stories, I liked Ali the most. I really liked how she transformed herself throughout the book, and Daniel was a great character as well. The only character I didn't like was the mom--she was crazy. She was obsessed with the sisters giving her grandchildren. As a child free (by choice) woman, this really irked me. She was totally over the top.


Overall, I really enjoyed this book! If you're a Susan Mallery fan, this one is not to miss! That lovely cover and setting of the story were delightful in this dreary winter weather!

Three sisters, three very different lives, all of which are going to change beyond recognition.

Finola the oldest is the host of a TV show, married to a plastic surgeon and about to go on holiday where they will finally start trying for a baby. Zennie is highly skilled OR nurse, single and dedicated to her work she really doesn't see the point of dating although she's going through the motions with a guy she's dated a few times. Ali, the youngest is busy planning her upcoming wedding. Then in one fateful week everything changes, all three women get dumped. Finola's husband announces he's leaving her moments before she goes live on TV, interviewing the younger woman he's having an affair with. Ali's fiance is too much of a coward to tell her himself, so he sends his older, badder brother. Only Zennie's breakup isn't a ritual humiliation, but then she really didn't care in the first place. When her BFF asks Zennie to be her surrogate Zennie doesn't hesitate, after all she has no interest in having a baby of her own.

I wanted to expand my reading horizons which had got into a bt of a rut recently and so I requested this ARC from NetGalley because it sounded like something a bit more than just a chick-lit romance. It was definitely not a chick-lit romance, I would firmly classify this in the women's fiction category but I have to say it didn't really wow me. Having the intertwining stories of the three sisters really just made me feel that we didn't get to see more than a surface impression of each of the sisters, they had no depth. Similarly the male characters were all a bit cardboard. I also had the feeling that frankly not a lot actually happened, there was a lot of the sisters bemoaning that this one was prettier or that one was their father's favourite but not much more. To be honest, I think this is my overall impression of women's fiction and therefore the fault is probably with me for requesting a book in a genre which leaves me so apathetic - a real case of it's not you it's me!

If you are a fan of women's fiction, where the characters reassess their lives and childhoods then I expect that you will enjoy this novel, I have decided that I am not a fan of women's fiction, I like a bit more angst with my romance.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Susan Mallery in California Girls writes about three sisters, each experiencing different relationship difficulties. Each “girl” has her own voice and is well developed. A good read.