Sisters Like Us (Mischief Bay Series #4)

by Susan Mallery

Overview

The grass is always greener on your sister’s side of the fence…

Divorce left Harper Szymanski with a name no one can spell, a house she can't afford and a teenage daughter who's pulling away. With her fledgling virtual-assistant business, she's scrambling to maintain her overbearing mother’s ridiculous Susie Homemaker standards and still pay the bills, thanks to clients like Lucas, the annoying playboy cop who claims he hangs around for Harper's fresh-baked cookies.

Spending half her life in school hasn't prepared Dr. Stacey Bloom for her most daunting challenge—motherhood. She didn't inherit the nurturing gene like Harper and is in deep denial that a baby is coming. Worse, her mother will be horrified to learn that Stacey's husband plans to be a stay-at-home dad…assuming Stacey can first find the courage to tell Mom she's already six months pregnant.

Separately they may be a mess, but together Harper and Stacey can survive anything—their indomitable mother, overwhelming maternity stores and ex’s weddings. Sisters Like Us is a delightful look at sisters, mothers and daughters in today’s fast-paced world, told with Susan Mallery’s trademark warmth and humor.

Don't miss The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery where one woman discovers the beauty in chaos in a poignant and heartwarming story about the threads that hold family together.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780778330905
Publisher:	MIRA Books
Publication date:	01/23/2018
Series:	Mischief Bay Series , #4
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	184,940
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.10(d)

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.

Editorial Reviews

01/01/2018
The focus in this fourth installment of Mallery's "Mischief Bay" series is on Harper, a divorced mom who is trying to keep her business afloat, and her sister, Stacey, who is feeling trepidation about being pregnant at 40 after being career-minded for so long. Their overbearing mother and her impossible standards adds tension to the sisters' already stressful situations, but luckily the men in their lives give them the help and support they need. Sweet and solid, Lucas is Harper's client-turned-friend with whom she becomes romantically involved, but she wonders if their romance has lasting potential. Harper also worries about not being there for her teenage daughter, Becca, who is going through trials of her own. Although the chapters from Becca's POV are heavy on the teen melodrama, Mallery (Girls of Mischief Bay) delivers another character-driven story of female friendships with women who are flawed but endearing. Marking this series is an uplifting tone and complex characters. VERDICT Another compelling, thought-provoking, and big-hearted story from Mallery that will please readers of this series and also can be read as a stand-alone.—Sonia Reppe, Stickney-Forest View P.L., IL

Library Journal

2017-11-13
Two very different sisters deal with children, relationships, and their overbearing mother in the latest entry in Mallery's Mischief Bay series (A Million Little Things, 2017, etc.).Harper Szymanski and Stacey Bloom may be sisters, but they couldn't be more different. Harper married young, had a child, and dedicated her life to crafting, cooking, and decorating. Stacey researches multiple sclerosis and really only feels at home in her lab or with her husband, Kit. But both sisters are dealing with some unexpected blows. After divorcing her cheating husband, Harper is left with a teenage daughter and a house she can barely afford. For the first time in her life, she has to earn a living. And while she's good at running her virtual assistant business, it isn't quite paying the bills. She also has to deal with her client Lucas, an attractive cop in his 50s who dates much younger women. Meanwhile, Stacey is six months pregnant and consumed by the fear that she'll be a terrible mother. She's never felt like the other women in her family, and she's afraid she won't be able to feel a connection to her baby. Both women have to deal with their bossy mother, Bunny, who thinks all women should focus on their families and be subservient to their husbands. Although the relationships between the female characters are central to the story, Lucas and Harper's relationship has the most spark. It's clear that they're going to end up together, and it's fun watching their back and forth. Unfortunately, their happily-ever-after is hurried and not completely satisfying. At around 400 pages, the story feels too long and a little repetitive at times—Harper's fears of motherhood and Bunny's overbearing nature are brought up often. Overall, though, it's refreshing to see sisters who get along in fiction; Harper and Stacey always support each other no matter what drama happens in their personal and professional lives. Mallery's fans will no doubt love the chance to revisit Mischief Bay.An emotional and humorous look at the bonds between the women in an endearingly flawed family.

Kirkus Reviews

"Heartfelt, funny, and utterly charming all the way through!" -Susan Elizabeth Phillips

"The multilevel plot is rich with assumptions, expectations, and classic family dynamics, plus exceptionally well-developed and appealing characters. VERDICT: Funny, tender, moving...[a] pure delight and a rewarding read for romance and women's fiction fans alike." -Library Journal, starred review

"5 Stars! The characters will have you crying, laughing, and falling in love... Another brilliantly well-written story." -San Francisco Book Review

"Once again, Susan Mallery has created an inviting world that envelops her readers' senses and sensibilities. Fans of Jodi Picoult, Debbie Macomber, and Elin Hilderbrand will assuredly fall for The Girls of Mischief Bay." -Bookreporter.com

"[Mallery] will appeal to fans of women's fiction, especially such friendship books as Karen Joy Fowler's The Jane Austen Book Club." -Booklist

"Fresh and engaging... There's a generational subtext that mirrors reality and the complexities of adult relationships...filled with promise of a new serial that's worth following." -Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Mallery enthralls [and] thoroughly involves readers in the lives of her characters as they face realistic, believable problems and search for their own happy endings." -Publishers Weekly

"Both heart-wrenching and warmhearted... A discerning, affecting look at three women facing surprising change and the powerful and uplifting impact of friends." -Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

Narrator Tanya Eby helps weave the story of two sisters who are at very different stages of their lives. Divorced Harper is struggling with her new business as a virtual assistant. Her sister, Stacey, is a brilliant scientist who is pregnant with her first child. Eby gives a unique voice to each of the characters: the competent Lucas, one of Harper’s clients; the strident Harper and her timid teenage daughter; and both sisters’ overbearing mother. Listeners will become caught up with Stacey and her worries about her lack of maternal instincts while chuckling at her intellectual approach to motherhood. Eby’s narration will also have listeners rooting for Lucas and Harper. This is a thoroughly appealing audio experience. S.B. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2018 - AudioFile