Sisters by Choice: A Novel

Susan Mallery

Feb 2020 · Blackberry Island Book 4 · Sold by MIRA

About this eBook

From the New York Times bestselling author of California Girls comes an all new original Blackberry Island novel told with Susan Mallery’s trademark humor and charm. Sisters by Choice is a heartfelt tale of love, family and the friendships that see us through.

Cousins by chance, sisters by choice…

After her cat toy empire goes up in flames, Sophie Lane returns to Blackberry Island, determined to rebuild. Until small-town life reveals a big problem: she can’t grow unless she learns to let go. If Sophie relaxes her grip even a little, she might lose everything. Or she might finally be free to reach for the happiness and love that have eluded her for so long.

Kristine has become defined by her relationship to others. She’s a wife, a mom. As much as she adores her husband and sons, she wants something for herself—a sweet little bakery just off the waterfront. She knew changing the rules wouldn’t be easy, but she never imagined she might have to choose between her marriage and her dreams.

Like the mainland on the horizon, Heather’s goals seem beyond her grasp. Every time she manages to save for college, her mother has another crisis. Can she break free, or will she be trapped in this tiny life forever?

Want more of Heather's story? Don't miss The Happiness Plan, a new novel coming from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery where three women experience hope, heartache, and the power of friendship as they search for true happiness!

Ratings and reviews

Susan Mallery has a way with writing stories about strong women and she does it again with Sisters by Choice. She often writes characters and stories where the reader can relate and this one, a story about finding the women in your life that are your "family", really hit home for me. The powerful connections they formed with each other while overcoming life's challenges were believable and touching. An enjoyable read.

This is book 4 in the Blackberry Island series and it features cousins, Sophie, Kristine and Heather. Sophie is a mess! She has major issues with being in a relationship because of her past. She’s got an unnatural OCD with running her multi million dollar cat supply empire, which is REALLY strange. Even though she hires people to run certain departments, she can’t seem to stop interfering with their jobs. Kristine just wants to open her own bakery after being a stay at home mom and wife for so long. Her husband was really a jerk about it all. Heather just wants to live life for herself instead of taking care of her totally able-bodied mother, Amber. Amber is an awful person. She’s rude, entitled like no one I’ve ever seen and just wants to be taken care of, even though she is 100% able to take care of herself. I think I liked only one character in the whole book and that was Kristine. The family dynamics were interesting but the romance was horrible and made ZERO sense. It probably would have been better with no romance at all. I’m a big fan of this author but this book was a HUGE let down for me.

We get the chance to go back to Blackberry Island and we get to know these cousins in real life but they really are more like sisters. They are as different as can with different problems but when reality comes calling they pull together. I really enjoyed this one and not going to give anything away since I really want you to pick it up and form your own opinions. It is not a romance, it is a woman's lit, and it is fantastic.

About the author

#1 NYT bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives—family, friendship, romance. She's known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages. Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her at SusanMallery.com.