The Sister Effect by Susan Mallery: Book Review

The Sister Effect is an emotional story of family, resilience and hope. This is Susan Mallery at her best.

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From The Publisher:

Beloved bestselling author Susan Mallery brings readers an emotional, witty, and heartfelt story that explores the nuances of a broken family’s complex emotions as they strive to become whole in this uplifting story of human frailty and resilience.

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.

My Thoughts:

This is one of my favourite books by Susan Mallery. The characters are well-developed, experience real challenges and have made mistakes in their lives. I have read many books by this author and this one has become one of my favourites.

Finlay and Sloane are sisters who were raised by a mother who was in and out of their lives, and a grandfather who picked up the pieces each time she left. When their mother decided to stay for good, their grandfather gave the girls the choice of who they wished to live with. When the girls choose their mother, he left them for good.

The story is told from the dual perspectives of Finlay and Sloane and speaks to how the sisters were impacted by the instability of their childhood. Where Finlay became a responsible adult who craved stability, Sloane’s path was very different. I was impressed with Mallery’s discussion of Sloane’s alcoholism which was written with great compassion.

During one of the most tragic times in her life, Sloane asks Finlay to become the guardian of her daughter. Without giving too much away, Finlay and her mother raise her daughter for the next several years – a commitment that Finlay takes very seriously. She has worked hard to rebuild her financial health after a huge loss that was outside of her own control.

While the story has romance elements, it shines in the personal growth of the two sisters as individuals and as siblings. It is a moving, emotional read perfect for those that enjoy stories of family relationships. I am certain I will remember this book for many years to come.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories of family.

What I Liked:

• The well developed characters
• The discussion of alcoholism which was written with compassion
• The individual growth and enhanced family dynamics as the story progresses

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to HQN and Edelweiss + for the DRC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.

Some of the Other Books I’ve Reviewed by Susan Mallery:

The Boardwalk Bookshop

The Summer Getaway

The Stepsisters