The Sister Effect

Author: Susan Mallery
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Harlequin, 2023
Pages: 416
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: Finley McGowan is determined that the niece she's raising will always feel loved and wanted. Unlike how she felt after her mom left to pursue a dream of stardom, and when the grandfather who was left to raise them abandoned her and her sister, Sloane, when they needed him most. Finley reacted to her chaotic childhood by walking the straight and narrow - nose down, work hard, follow the rules.

Sloane went the other way.

Now Sloane is back, as beautiful and as damaged as ever. . .and she wants a relationship with her daughter. She says she's changed, but Finley's heart has been burned once too often for her to trust easily. But is her reluctance to forgive really about Sloane or worry over losing what she loves the most? With the help of a man who knows all too well how messy families can be, Finley will learn there's joy in surrendering and peace in letting go.

Review: I can count on getting absorbed in Susan Mallery's books, and this one was no different. However, The Sister Effect won't be remembered as one of my favorites either. It took awhile for both Finley and Jericho to grow on me, and even in the end, I wasn't their biggest fan. I really struggled with Jericho's mother pushing him to forgive his brother and ex-wife. While it's noble and necessary, it didn't ring true. Forgiveness would have made a great theme for the next book had Mallery chosen to make The Sister Effect the first book in a series or trilogy.

Other Susan Mallery Novels:
The Friendship List
The Christmas Wedding Ring

Wishing Tree Series
The Christmas Wedding Guest
Home Sweet Christmas

Mischief Bay Novels
The Girls of Mischief Bay
The Friends We Keep
A Million Little Things