The California sunshine’s not quite so bright for three sisters who get dumped in the same week…
Finola, a popular LA morning show host, is famously upbeat until she’s blindsided on live TV by news that her husband is sleeping with a young pop sensation who has set their affair to music. While avoiding the tabloids and pretending she’s just fine, she’s crumbling inside, desperate for him to come to his senses and for life to go back to normal.
Zennie’s breakup is no big loss. Although the world insists she pair up, she’d rather be surfing. So agreeing to be the surrogate for her best friend is a no-brainer—after all, she has an available womb and no other attachments to worry about. Except…when everyone else, including her big sister, thinks she’s making a huge mistake, being pregnant is a lot lonelier—and more complicated—than she imagined.
Never the tallest, thinnest or prettiest sister, Ali is used to being overlooked, but when her fiancé sends his disapproving brother to call off the wedding, it’s a new low. And yet Daniel continues to turn up “for support,” making Ali wonder if maybe—for once—someone sees her in a way no one ever has.
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I love stories that deal with friendships and family. Plus, I had always enjoyed books that deal with relationships between sisters. I had never had a sister, but I have a few friends like sisters, and those books make me think about them. California Girls is the second book that I have read by Susan Mallery and so far, it’s my favorite. California Girls is a story that will break your heart one minute and laugh the next. At the start of the book, it’s sad for all the sisters, all dumped in the same week. I felt the worst for Finola. To find out that her husband was cheating on her right before going on air, I cannot imagine. I don’t even know how she managed to do the show once the truth came out; I know that I wouldn’t be able to if it were me. Finola’s emotions were everywhere, and I could feel her emotions. I wanted to hug her. I wondered if her husband would stay with his mistress or return to Finola. I hoped that she wouldn’t take him back if he did come back; if he did it once, he would do it again. At first, I wasn’t sure if she would turn him away; it was clear how much she loved him.
I loved Zennie, and I loved what gift she was giving to her best friend. It takes so much to be a surrogate. I understand why so many people were against it; they were afraid that she would get attached to the baby and wouldn’t be able to give it away; I wish that they would at least give her some support. I thought that what she was doing for her best friend was amazing, even when she was struggling initially. I’m glad that her family was there along with her in the end. When Zennie was struggling initially, I was starting to wonder if she would be able to make it, if she was strong enough to do this. I was rooting for her to make it through the most challenging part. Ali, I can’t even imagine being dumped a few days before the wedding and refusing to help cancel the wedding. That’s not the type of person I would even want to marry. I’m glad she found out what type of person he was before they married.
Daniel. I liked him from the beginning. It must be uncomfortable to tell someone that their brother didn’t want to marry them, but better than being left at the altar. I saw how much Daniel cared about Ali from the start, and I knew it wasn’t because he felt sorry for her; he was in love with her. I don’t think anyone would take care of someone they didn’t know well unless there was an attraction there. I was glad that Daniel was there for Ali because I’m not sure she would be able to go through breakup and wedding cancelations all on her own. I loved the connection between them; however, I felt like their relationship moved too fast, especially towards the end.
In general, I couldn’t force myself to put this book down. California Girls is the type of story that I love. I discovered Susan Mallery books this year, and I cannot wait for a chance to check the rest of her books out.
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