This was the book that made me fall in love with Susan Mallery's writing and started my Mallery book buying/reading journey. A beautifully written, heartfelt story about complex, imperfect humans and the power of friendship. Those this book would make a great summer read, don't mistake it for a light, fluffy book. It explores some deep, complex themes in a thoughtful manner.

Three women, at three different stages of life with different lifestyles and problems, come together in unexpected ways. Nicole finds herself in a marriage with someone who makes decisions prioritizing himself and not her, their child and life together. Shannon sacrificed a lot to build a successful career but is now questioning her own life choices. And Pam seems to have all the ingredients to be happy but feels like she lost the connection with her inner self.

Those these three are far from being girls, the story really highlights the importance of "girl" friendships and how they can carry us through even the most tumultuous parts of life. I also loved the setting and its descriptions - it made me want to visit California ASAP. If you are already a fan of Susan Mallery, picking up this book is a no-brainer. If you are a fan of stories about female friendships and like your characters perfectly imperfect than this is a book for you.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read the second book in this series before this one and didn't really care for it. This one is a bit better, I did like the characters for the most part (and I didn't like two of the three in the second book) It's nothing I will remember after a couple of weeks though.

The Girls of Mischief Bay by Susan Mallery is a good weekend read. Three women from different walks of life are brought together through a geographical community. Together, their interests keep them connected, but individually, their lives are as different as you and I.

This story is more of a women's fiction with a touch of "chick lit." While I reserve to use those words, I felt that Mallery focused on a woman's thoughts and emotions varying stages of adulthood. I found myself relating to one or another, in different occasions.

Between the main characters, each with their individual point of view, we delve into their lives. Motherhood, marriage, identity are just a few themes touched upon by Mallery. But what I found intriguing is the perseverance and the journey and the steps taken towards the end goal.

This book was difficult to read through, and I attribute that to the realness of the moments. It's hard being and adult woman, juggling so many different factors. I'm glad Mallery touched on so many of those points.

Susan Mallery's woman fiction are hit or miss (for me that is). This one had great emotions and a nice storyline.Very enjoyable !

TRIGGER/SPOILER WARNING FOR ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

So I've had this book sitting on my Kindle for several years. I forgot about it until I downloaded the newest book, "Sisters Like Us". I was partway through it before realizing I had this one, lol. So when as I finished "Sisters Like Us" I picked up "The Girls of Mischief Bay". "Sisters" made me laugh but "Girls" made me cry and gutted me.

"The Girls of Mischief Bay" deals with death, divorce, childlessness and isn't afraid to get ugly. It follows three friends, Pam, Shannon, and Nicole, and their families. I cried, a lot. The book gutted me. I had read "Sisters Like Us" right before and it was a lighter read so I was unprepared for the depth of the grief I encountered in this story. As I mentioned above, Mallery takes on suicide - suicide ideation and an aborted suicide. It shocked me at first, I wasn't expecting events to go that way. But it made sense in context and Mallery handled it beautifully. It felt realistic, mostly. There's a turn of events that was a bit too sweet and convenient and yet it felt right. I know I'm being vague; I'm trying to avoid too many spoilers. The other women's stories were also emotional but not as heavy-hitting. The bonds between the three women were strong, deep, and enduring.

"The Girls of Mischief Bay" was an emotional, gut-wrenching story that tore me apart but ultimately left me satisfied. It ended on a hopeful note.

While I've enjoyed the romances of Mallery's that I've read, I think these books, this series, may be my favorite. They're about 70% women's fiction and 30% romance. The stories are real, the characters, most of them, delightful, and I love Mallery's humor. Her storytelling draws me in and makes me care. I'm caught up in what's happening. She has a knack for writing family dynamics and for interpersonal relationships. Now, I need to bet my hands on books two and three and catch up.

Susan Mallery takes us on a ride with Pam, Shannon and Nicole in this story. These three women are just like all the rest of us that have to go through day to day things and the way that Susan Mallery has them deal with it is so down to Earth!

Shannon is about to turn 40 and has put all her focus on her career. She is a CEO of an international company and a very successful business woman. Now that Shannon is about to turn 40, she is wondering if she is ready to settle down with a husband and child of her own.

Pam is 50 and has 3 kids of her own that she has successfully raised. Now that Pam is in her 50s, she is contemplating a facelift and is trying to find out how to put some more spice back into her marriage.

Nicole is 30, has been in her marriage for 6 years and has a 5 year old son. Nicole also own the yoga studio where Pam and Shannon go to get their yoga in. With all 3 ladies being at the yoga studio and working out together, they are really close friends.

These ladies all have their own issues that they are dealing with. They are able to help each other along in their decisions and we get to see how these ladies deal with issues we all are faced with at times in out lives. I love how Susan Mallery makes you feel apart of these ladies lives while you are reading this story. I can't wait to see what else Susan Mallery has in store for us from the Mischief Bay series.

The Girls of Mischief Bay is another fantastic book by Susan Mallery. I have always loved her writing style and her way with words and this book didn't disappoint. Every time I pick up one of her books I'm sucked in and can't stop till I finish them, I even took this one to work with me...don't tell! Loved reading every single word of this book. Best part I wasn't sure what was going to happen next.