SISTERS LIKE US
by Susan Mallery
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.