Finola, Zennie and Ali, three sisters who will suffer through life changing events and learn so much about love and life. Ali is busy working and planning the wedding of her dreams. Zennie is not interested in being a “couple”, but has her exciting life as an operating room nurse and a great group of friends. Finola has her own local television show and is planning her trip to Hawaii with her husband where she will tell him that she is ready for them to start a family. In one week, their lives will implode in unexpected ways. Ali is stunned when her future brother-in-law arrives to tell her that his brother, her fiancé wants out of the wedding. Zennie will be asked by her best friend, who is unable to have children, to be a surrogate for her and her husband. Finola will find out in the most-cruel way that her husband is having an affair…with a much younger pop star. A wonderful, heartwarming story about the way the three sisters deal with their changed lives. Will they be strong enough to survive their challenges? Whenever I read a Susan Mallery novel, I “sigh” when I finish the book and want to read it all over again. Another masterpiece by an author that takes you through every emotion possible. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

A very pleasant read. Sort of romance, sort of a domestic drama this book was fun. Reading women who are fully fleshed out - they have friends and careers and hobbies and families was a pleasure. It's the sort of book you can just read for pleasure, it doesn't need a lot of thought or analysis. And while there are love stories in there, this book does not posit that the solution to every problem is a man.

Thanks Netgalley and Harlequin Mira foor the ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

California Girls was a nice read from author Susan Mallery that contained some likeable characters that grab reader’s attentions..
Review copy received via Netgalley

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Mira for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. I was worried this book might veer into too much "romance," for me, but I shouldn't have worried. The character development was spot on with this book, and I felt like I knew the characters, even to the point of their relationship dynamics feeling real to me. Three sisters, each with their own problems (some are major!) and flaws. I loved watching each sister change, together and apart. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this book about three very different sisters and the dramas in their lives. I think I got thrown off track with Susan Mallery a bit with a couple of so-so Fools Gold books that I wasn't that keen on, but this is definitely Susan Mallery at her best.

The three sisters, Finola, Zennie & Ali, are all very different but have each recently split with their husband/fiancee/partner, although Zennie may have split up with a guy she was seeing but she wasn't that bothered about him anyway (or so she thought!) so she was the least affected by it.

Finola is a TV presenter whose husband has recently left her for a young famous singer and she's really struggling with how she feels and 'what everyone thinks'. She was definitely the hardest sister to like, she came across as a bit selfish and it was all about her. Zennie did her own thing and didn't really care what people thought, until she agreed to be a surrogate for a friend and while some people thought it was great others thought she was mad and really judged her for it, which she hadn't really expected. Ali was my favourite sister. Her fiancee had dumped her weeks before the wedding and left her to de-organise and pay for everything. His brother though jumped in to help and he was lovely, even though Ali had felt he didn't like her when they'd met before.

The whole story is really about relationships, the sisters, their friends and family. The girls mother, and father/step-father actually, were both quite 'interesting' characters. Their mother especially seemed quite a selfish woman, probably why Finola was her favourite as she was quite like her.

Each sister developed over the course of the story and came out stronger and closer to each other by the end of the book because of the drama in their lives. Even though it didn't seem it at the time every cloud (eventually!) has a silver lining. Very enjoyable.

Sisters Ali, Zennie, and Finola are having a rough time in the relationship department - they've all been dumped in the same week. Ali's fiancé sent his brother to break off their engagement; Finola finds out her husband is having an affair with a pop sensation who is a guest on the talk show she hosts; and Zennie just doesn't see the point in dating, a fact her latest date notices before he breaks it off with her.

Each sister copes with the breakup in her own way. Ali tackles the task of unplanning her wedding, luckily she has lots of help in the form of the once-future-brother-in-law who keeps showing up. Finola hides from the press while she tries to figure out what went wrong with her marriage. And Zennie, not really heartbroken but definitely still over the dating scene, skips to the next step and gets pregnant (she agrees to serve as a surrogate to her best friend).

In the typical fashion of Susan Mallery characters, the sisters learn more about themselves than ever before and grow into the women they truly are, all while repairing their relationships with each other.

I love Susan Mallery's books; they are always such quick, light-hearted reads. The Fools Gold series is one of my favorite to visit. California Girls does not disappoint - definitely a must-read, especially if you're looking for a feel-good story.

I really enjoyed this book, it had a great plot and interesting, quirky characters. It's a classic "beach book" and was a great read,

It's the story of three sisters and their various love lives and trials. They are very different people - Finola is a morning TV host who finds her husband is cheating on her, Zennie is a nurse with a lot of friends (one who wants her to be a surrogate mom) but no significant other, and Ali is engaged to be married until she's unceremoniously dumped just before her wedding.

The book tells how they overcome these obstacles and still maintain their relationship to one another in a funny and charming way.

Thanks to HARLEQUIN - MIRA and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Three sisters: the youngest, Ali, who is about to get married, those oldest, Finola, who has the perfect marriage, and the middle, Zennie, who is not really interested in dating. All of them are dealing with personal crises and milestone. Ali's fiancé's brother shows up. The fiancé doesn't especially want to get married but he's not going to tell her himself. Finola's, who is a TV personality, husband shows up half an hour before she's going on air to tell her that he's been having an affair. Zennie has a best friend who can't get pregnant, would she mind being the surrogate?
I generally like Ms. Mallery's non-series books. This had some really big themes that I thought were handled sensitively and well. But there were a couple of things that brought the book down for me. One was the views on Finola's marriage. We were just told that she accepted blame for it going south but we never really saw how she played into it. A big part of her ending was that she realized what part she played but... it felt forced; more tell than show. And I wish we had seen more of Zennie's romance. It was just tacked on at the end.

Three stars
This book comes out February 26
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin-Mira and NetGalley

This is a story based on 3 sisters who have completely different lives. East character is strong as they face a life altering circumstance that changes who they are or thought they may be. I enjoyed this story and would put it on my reread list. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley for the advance copy of this book. I loved reading it. The relationship between the sisters was so interesting. They weren't all nicey nice, they were sometimes quite harsh with each other which I believe might be what sisters are more like. They had their jealousy issues, but at the same time when the chips were really down they were there for each other. I have to admit, I did not like the dad. He played a very small part in the book, but I thought he could have been more supportive. I really did not like the mom. I found her flaky and self indulgent. It always seemed to be all about her and when her "past" re-emerged into her life, her daughters became a mere blip on the radar!!! She was a real piece of work. I believe readers will enjoy this book as it covers many different types of relationships and shows that sometimes things work out and sometimes things don't, but it does show that perseverance and determination are great attributes to have during the difficult times in your life. A great read that I highly recommend!!!

2.5 stars

I generally like Susan Mallery books, but this one kind of fell flat for me. None of the characters really seemed likeable, except maybe Ali at times. And their parents were kind of awful.

Susan Mallery's California Girls could be girls (women) anywhere. She reveals the deepest feelings of these women in various trying times. Her depth and understanding always takes me to a better place.

Susan Mallery has officially broke me out of my winter doldrums!!!! California Girls is a fantastic women’s fiction/romance novel that is a complete stand-alone and a complete must-read! Centering around three sisters, Zennie, Finola, and Ali who all find themselves unlucky in love...all at the same time! I loved the premise of the novel and I honestly was hooked right away. Susan Mallery has created such endearing characters that you will want to see find their happily ever after! I enjoyed all of the heartfelt moments, humor and depth that was packed into this 4.5 star read! Susan Mallery never disappoints and California Girls is most definitely a 2019 favorite of mine! As per usual, I cannot wait to get my hands on what Susan comes out with next!

California Girls is a wonderful read filled with lots of heart, some heart ache and watching sisters come together. This was such a beautiful read watching each sister come into her own. Each sister is different in her own way. You have the oldest Finola. She is direct and doesn't hold back her opinion. Married not only to work but to her husband too. Zennie is the middle sister. She does her own thing, beats to her own drum and the tomboy. Single and doesn't feel the need to be in a relationship. Last we have the youngest sister Ali. She is the invisible one and a bit of a wallflower. I love how this flows from sister to sister as they help in their own ways to support or put their opinion in on various things. Ali you so a wonderful transformation in her. With Zennie you experience her selfless nature. Finola finally getting things figured out. In all it is heart warming watching the sisters become so close and finding what they never thought they wanted. This is such an amazing read.

One of the greatest joys of reading is the ability to escape to a different locale. In the midst of a cold Minnesota winter, escaping to California with sisters Finola, Zennie, and Ali was an absolute delight!
☀️ ☀️☀️
Three sisters, all dealing with various dramas in their life. Morning show host Finola is blindsided on national TV when she finds out her husband has been having an affair. Zennie is content with her small life so her breakup is no big deal...until she’s presented with the opportunity to be a surrogate for her best friend. And then there’s poor Ali...her fiancée calls off her wedding a month before but refuses to do it himself and sends his brother to break up with her instead. These sisters deal with life changing events, leaning on each other and finding that maybe these endings are just new beginnings. I loved this story and was completely invested in the characters. This was wonderfully written and a fabulous representation of a sisterly bond. For me, California Girls was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Thank you @harlequinbooks for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

An excellent mixture of romance novel and chick lit tied up with a neat little bow. This book was graciously provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange of a review.
I absolutely adored this book. I feel like I got to know the characters and that they are women I would like to be friends with.
Every woman dreams of finding the perfect partner. This book is about that but it is more about finding happiness within yourself first. No one can be happy with a man/woman until they learn how to love themselves first. Sometimes your life has to fall apart before everything can turn out right. That's what this book is about.

California Girls
Great premise for this story-three sisters at varying points in their relationships all get dumped on the same day. Finola, the oldest is married and her husband lets her know he is having an affair right before she goes on air to host a television show. Talk about pulling you in. Then you find out her guest is the woman he is having an affair with! Her sisters and some reviewers of this book feel she is selfish but I felt sorry for her. Imagine learning your husband of many years was having an affair and you had to interview the mistress. I think her actions of pulling in to herself were understandable. She did do some soul searching and without giving too much away, she made some changes.
Ali is the next sister who was just about to get married. However, that was before her fiancé sent his brother to break up with her. Ouch! Although, the brother is pretty great so maybe not so bad. I really enjoyed Ali’s story. It had some really lighthearted moments along with adjusting to a new life.
Zennie is the third sister who had really only dated her guy a few times. I was not as fond of her as a character because I felt she was a little too critical of her sister and a little whiney about how everyone thinks people must be paired up. I will say, she did a great thing for her friends and she too grew over the course of the story.
There is also a treat where the Mother of the three gets her own mini story. Very romantic is all I will say. Loved that part.
If you are looking for an enjoyable read, pick this one up. Also, this would be very good for Book Clubs-lots to discuss.

Story of thee sisters who get dumped on the same day. We have Finola a TV show host, whose husband has an affair with a young pop star, Zennie a nurse who feels she is not cut out for pairing up and wants to be alone but also wants to be a surrogate mother for her friend. Then we have Ali, who is always overlooked gets dumped by her fiance 7 weeks before the wedding.
It was an ok read. I did not feel connected to any of the characters.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the eARC

It’s a story about sisters being dumped and starting over. I really enjoyed their relationships and self discovery. The story was easy to read over a snowy weekend.