The Stepsisters: A Novel

Susan Mallery

May 2021 · Sold by MIRA

About this ebook

#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery pens a love story of a different sort…a heartfelt tale of friendship between two women who used to be sisters.

Once upon a time, when her dad married Sage’s mom, Daisy was thrilled to get a bright and shiny new sister. But Sage was beautiful and popular, everything Daisy was not, and she made sure Daisy knew it.

Sage didn’t have Daisy’s smarts—she had to go back a grade to enroll in the fancy rich-kid school. So she used her popularity as a weapon, putting Daisy down to elevate herself. After the divorce, the stepsisters’ rivalry continued until the final, improbable straw: Daisy married Sage’s first love, and Sage fled California.

Eighteen years, two kids and one troubled marriage later, Daisy never expects—or wants—to see Sage again. But when the little sister they have in common needs them both, they put aside their differences to care for Cassidy. As long-buried truths are revealed, no one is more surprised than they when friendship blossoms.

Their fragile truce is threatened by one careless act that could have devastating consequences. They could turn their backs on each other again…or they could learn to forgive once and for all and finally become true sisters of the heart.

Don't miss New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery's heartwarming summer novel, The Summer Book Club, where conversations over a glass of wine turns into something much more in this journey of motherhood, friendship and love.

Get lost in more beach reads by Susan Mallery:

• The Summer Book Club - Coming February 2024!
• The Happiness Plan
• The Sister Effect
• The Boardwalk Bookshop
• The Summer Getaway

Ratings and reviews

3.5 stars. Susan Mallery's writing and character depth are generally excellent, but this novel just had a few too many gut punches without relief, at least considering that the villains were a little too flatly characterized for the pain to be more than a gut punch. Jordan was just a terrible husband/human, and Joanne a horrific mother/stepmother/human. and Wallace couldn't plausibly have been that oblivious to the tension between Cassidy and Daisy, so the initial setup was a bit over-contrived for my taste.

Two things that Susan Mallery writes well are siblings and character development and wow does The Stepsisters have both in spades. Stories with step and half-siblings always have a place in my heart as I grew up with a complicated family history and boy could I relate to some of the ways that Daisy and Sage felt, and Cassidy too. Childhood feelings and experiences affect us so much more than we think they do, and things we thought to be true, aren't often the reality we find ourselves in as adults. Finding friendship with your siblings as you get older is one of life's gifts and it was nice to see these relationships change and grow into more.

I think this book is one of my favorites because I could totally relate with Daisy! I found myself wanting to hurry up and finish the book not only because I wanted to see how Daisy's story turned out but also because I was loving Sage and Cassidy's stories also!! I don't know how SM keeps coming up with such great books!!! I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

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.