Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsSometimes changes are the best thing to happen to you...
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2020
Sisters by Choice. Wow, you almost have to define the issues of each one of the lead characters in this book individually. None of them are easy, but with the signature Mallery style, you find yourself relating to them in some way or another.
Sophie loses her business in a catastrophic fire and decides to relocate to her hometown, Blackberry Island, where she can rebuild with her extended family close. With her unrealistic 'micro-manager' management technique, Sophie buffaloes her way into all aspects of the business like she did when she began. Unfortunately, she can't do this any longer. Her 'I'm the only one who can make sure the job gets done correctly' management mantra has to change. Will she let this happen?
Kristine, house-wife extraordinaire, with 3 sons and a husband she loves dearly, plus a flourishing mini-bakery business that she runs out of her house. Something needs to give. Will her desire to have a REAL bakery, away from her house, be the stepping stone she needs to succeed as her kids need her less, or will her marriage suffer irreparable harm if she follows her dreams?
Heather was adultified as a young teen since her mother, Amber, blamed her for everything bad that happened and made her the ‘adult’ in the family far too early. Now Heather wants to get out. She wants to be a 20-year-old college student, rather than a convenient source of income for her mother. As she begins to work for Sophie and dreams that she'll be able to leave sooner rather than later, will her mother's actions sabotage her efforts?
Amber…OMG…Can we just agree that Amber is a piece of work? Everything always goes wrong for her because, she got pregnant, and had Heather, and never got a chance to do anything. Whiny, entitled, blame everyone else for my problems because it can’t be me witch doesn't even begin to describe Amber. Manipulating everyone, all the time, I just don't like her or any of her actions!
Taking on a multitude of psychological issues for four women with such different personalities in one book is difficult. Susan Mallery is up to the task! Power and control, throttle and brake, manipulation and acceptance. How these women deal with others and themselves as they go forward was amazing to watch.
All of the women in this book have flaws. Some are on the way to being fixed. Others won't ever change. The take-away from this book is, some things and people never change but when you can make positive changes, the world opens up to you in marvelous ways.
