Finley McGowan is a subcontractor who specializes in flipping houses and is guardian to her eight-year old niece Aubrey. They live with her mother Molly because three years ago her sister Sloane was the cause of her financial ruin and turned her daughter over to Finley, establishing her as legal guardian. Sloane’s been sober for almost a year now and Finley fears that she may want her daughter back. To make matters worse, her grandfather is coming to live with them because of poor health. Lester abandoned them twenty years ago and she’s not interested in forgiving the man that threw the girls’ lives into chaos. Meanwhile, home contractor Jericho Ford is facing his own sibling battle. His brother Gil destroyed his marriage by having an affair with his wife. Now, he wants him to forgive them both and is using their mother to apply pressure. When he meets Finley who is working on one of his houses, they find their common bond and a friendship is born.

the heart of the story…
The overwhelming theme in this story is forgiveness and it becomes rather obvious early on. But how can you forgive someone who hasn’t really asked for it, at least in the opinion of the one who was wronged? While Sloane keeps telling Finley she’s sorry, it doesn’t ever resonate or feel genuine. Lester does a better job of it but he later does something that calls his credibility into question. Jericho’s situation was even harder as his brother and ex-wife pretty much demanded he forgive them, move on, without ever really taking responsibility for their duplicity that doesn’t have a “but” accompanying the apology. I loved how Finley and Jericho were able to share their misery with each other, unknowingly finding an outlet and a sympathetic ear that ultimately helped them move forward. Their friendship eventually shifts to something more but by that time, they’d created a wonderful foundation.

the narration…
Tanya Eby is the reason I only listen to the author’s books because she’s such a wonderful storyteller. She delivered another great performance and gave distinctive voice to a host of characters.

the bottom line…
The forgiveness theme was therapeutic for me as I experienced similar disappointments in my life. I found myself bonding with Finley and Jericho, wanting them to hold out until…what? There were lots of lessons to be learned here, including for Sloane and Gil. This turned out to be an instructive but lovely story that even now I’m still thinking about. Job well done.

👭Book Review:
Title: The Sister Effect
Author: Susan Mallery
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/3 stars

I usually always enjoy this authors books. I listened to this one on audio, and I don't think it did it justice. This is another book that I'd like to actually physically read again to give it a more honest review.

Finlay McGowan has basically taken over the care of her 8 year old niece, Aubrey. Her mother, Finlay's sister, Sloane, is an on again, off again recovering alcoholic. Finlay lives with her mother, Molly, as Sloane completely wreaked havoc on her financial situation years ago during one of her alcoholic binges. Finlay has a lot of feels towards her sister and most of them are not good.

But now Sloane is back and she wants to rebuild her relationship with her daughter. Finlay is very protective of Aubrey and doesn't show much forgiveness. Finlay is able to seek solace in Jericho Ford, a home contractor she is working alongside. Will these sisters be able to come back together or is it a little bit too late?

Thank you @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Published: March 7th, 2023

A wonderful, heartbreaking, heart tugging, and sweet story from Susan Mallery. The Sister Effect is classic Mallery and a great beach read.

210 reviews
3 followers
May 29, 2023
This has romance, and our happily ever after, but it's ultimately a tale of sisterhood. Riley and Sloane are estranged after Sloane betrayed Riley's trust and left her to raise her daughter.

It has another sibling tale as well with Riley's love interest, but the main story is the one of the sisters. The accompanying love story for both sisters is also good, good characters and good storyline.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit!

Interesting characters, not a lot of drama or angst. Susan Mallery’s books are usually about family, and this is no exception. Much of Finley, the main character’s, storyline has to do with her alcoholic sister, and how her alcoholism has affected the family. It gets a bit heavy at times. Good story, though.

Finley is raising her niece because her sister, Sloane, is an alcoholic. Sloane stole some expensive items from Finley and ruined her reputation. So, Finley is not very receptive to Sloane and her attempts to get sober. However, Sloane has been sober almost a year but then she slips and Finley may never forgive her for her mistake.

I love both of these sisters. Finley has a heart of gold but tends to be a bit rigid in her life. And her total opposite is Sloane. She is more fly by night until she has to toughen up and get the job done and get sober.

This is a sweet story which will have you rooting for all involved. There are quite a few story lines going on at once but Susan Mallery is the master of manipulating all these stories to create a wonderful tale of love, acceptance and forgiveness.

Need good story about sisterly love and acceptance…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

THE SISTER EFFECT is everything a Susan Mallery novel is: Complex and engaging characters, a storyline filled with twists and turns and a whole lot of heart. With each book I have read by this author, there are a select few that I really, really enjoy and THE SISTER EFFECT is one of them. Filled with engaging and complex characters that fairly leap off the pages, a storyline filled with a few twists I didn’t see coming and a resolution that had me cheering in the end. Susan Mallery delivers it all with her latest book that takes on what family is and if forgiveness can be made by those who have been wronged in some way. I enjoyed Finley and Sloane’s story ARCS though I found myself at times wanting to smack Finley for being such a bitter person at times and being unforgiving at times to Sloane. I can empathize with her need to protect herself but at the same time she kept coming across as unmoving and it made her look not as sympathetic character. Sloane on the other hand made my heart ache and I was rooting for her to succeed in turning her life around and have a relationship with her daughter, who Finley is raising. The characters are well written, multidimensional and the past that is between Finley, Sloane, their mother and grandfather are interesting dynamics within THE SITER EFFECT and made me enjoy the book a lot.

THE SITER EFFECT is more than sisters at odds, it’s about family and all it entails- the good and the bad. Ms. Mallery delivers a satisfying and entertaining look at Sloane and Finley as well as the people around them who help them try to figure life out. I enjoy this author’s books and is definitely one of autobuys whenever they have a new book coming out. If you enjoy complex and intriguing characters, family drama and romance then you might enjoy THE SISTER EFFECT. I can’t wait to see what else this author has in store for their readers in the future.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement.

The Sister Effect by Susan Mallery is a fantastic portrayal of the relationship between two sisters. Finley is a rule follower and things are either black or white, right or wrong. Sloane follows the gray and in between areas of life. The two sisters clash and Finley ends up raising her niece, Aubrey while Sloane is in prison. Their relationship continues to be complicated after Sloane's release from prison. I absolutely loved this book and the characters! I would recommend this book. Trigger warnings: alcoholisms and abandonment

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. The cover of this book is very misleading to what the story is about. I found this story a lot harder to read than other Mallery books, and it should come with a trigger warning. This is still a good read, but not my favorite.

Good storyline. Many different factors of the family dynamics at play here. Interesting twists to keep you engrossed. Susan Mallery is a joy to read! A good beachy read you can't put down.

I've read a few Susan Mallory books and really liked them, so when I saw this cover I immediately wanted to read it. I didn't even know what it was about but it didn't matter. 🤣🤣 I'm here to tell you ..it's another good one. A heartfelt, and complicated family drama. A story about sisters and their journey of abandonment, forgiveness and healing. I really loved this one. I loved the characters and even though there are some tough topics in this one, I found that it also had some humor at just the right moments!

Out now.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own. My review will be posted on Instagram, Bookbub, Goodreads, and Amazon.

The Sister Effect by Susan Mallery is a women’s fiction title that does have a bit of romance but a whole lot more of family relationships, healing and forgiveness. The tough topics of alcoholism, infidelity and abandonment are at the forefront of the story.

Finley McGowan has done her best to clean up the mess her sister Sloane had left behind when her alcoholism hit rock bottom. This included Finley taking in her neice, Aubrey, and giving her a loving home when Sloane showed up with her in a drunken haze and admitted she couldn’t take care of her.

A year has passed since that horrible time with Finley getting back into the house flipping business she loves and Sloane staying sober visiting her daughter more and more. Finley can’t help but worry though and finds a friend in her boss who knows better than most just how impossible navigating family matters can be.

The Sister Effect is not the first book by Susan Mallery that I have read and it certainly won’t be the last. Each time I see a new book coming out I get excited to dive into them as I know I will be caught up in the story right away and The Sister Effect was no exception. The complex layers of the families involved kept my interest at a peak wondering how everything would work out and I couldn’t help but feel for the characters as they rode the emotional roller coaster and I went along for the ride. Another great story that I couldn’t put down until the very end!

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Women’s fiction superstar Susan Mallery returns with a heartwarming, emotional and compelling page-turner that is sure to satisfy her legion of fans worldwide: The Sister Effect.

Finley McGowan is determined not to repeat the same mistakes her mother and her grandfather had made as she raises her beloved niece. As a child, Finley had felt unwanted and unloved by a mother who had walked out on her to pursue her dreams of superstardom and a grandfather who had abandoned her and her sister Sloane to their own devices. Finley vows to give her niece the best possible chances in life and she is determined to shower her with all the love and support she needs. Her chaotic childhood had made Finley adamant never to stray from the rules and to always walk the straight and narrow. Sloane, on the other hand, had rebelled and gone in the completely opposite direction leaving her sister to raise her daughter.

Now Sloane is back determined to build bridges with her daughter and sister. She says she’s changed and that she wants to build a relationship with them, but Finley is not convinced. She’s been burnt far too many times before and she isn’t sure she can cope with getting her heart ripped to shreds again by Sloane. Will Finley’s reluctance end up costing her this final chance at a relationship with her sister? Are her struggles to forgive Sloane really about something far deeper she isn’t ready to face up to yet? With the help of an old friend who knows only too well how messy family life can be, will Finley learn there’s joy in letting go? Or will her fear to let her sister in end up costing her dear?

Susan Mallery continues to affirm her standing as one of women’s fiction most gifted storytellers with The Sister Effect. A wonderfully written story about the fragilities and frailties of the human heart, complex family ties and healing from the past, The Sister Effect is a hopeful, nuanced, entertaining and captivating tale that will strike a chord with women everywhere.

Finley and Sloane’s relationship is one that will make readers laugh and cry and it is told in a candid, sensitive and beautiful way that cannot fail to pluck at the heartstrings.

A first-rate novel readers will find hard to resist, Susan Mallery is once again at the top of her game with The Sister Effect.

Oh man this was a really great read. This is a story about addiction, the toll it takes on the family, broken families, how even though they do you wrong they are still family and you have to learn how to live in this new normal and that you can’t control the actions of the addicted person. Finley is raising her niece and paying off the debt that her sister Sloane who is an alcoholic caused after she went on a bender stole her work truck, sold what was inside and crashed it then imploded her life and Finley’s. Sloane is out of prison and almost a year sober having visitation with her daughter and trying to make amends for what she did but she isn’t really taking her sobriety seriously since she thinks she isn’t an alcoholic and she can control it which spoiler alert she can’t. Finley doesn’t trust her sister with just cause and I like watching how their relationship changes and grows as Finley realizes that she can’t control her sister’s addiction she can only control her reaction to it and set up boundaries. This was a really great take on the family dynamics involving addiction and how to help them and to let them go since you can’t make them get better, they have to want to get better. How to forgive but not forget and to understand that it isn’t your fault and that nothing you do will help the situation if they don’t want help.

Thanks to HQN and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.

Started out a bit slow but soon I was drawn in. I began to understand what the characters were feeling and why. Susan Mallery has a gift for bringing her characters into your home and becoming family.

Review may contain spoilers!

This book surprised me, it was not the lighter read I expected. Families, in particular sister relationships, are difficult and complex. Mallery handles the topic of alcoholism with honesty and empathy, exploring the effects it has on not only the alcoholic but also their loved one. It delves into repairing relationships and love, that we sometimes need to dig deep to find again. This is a family you’ll definitely be cheering for. Loved the relationship between the Aunt and Niece.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

This is an excellent story about the challenges that families face, second chances, and addiction.

Finley is raising her sister, Sloane's, daughter due to addiction. Finley has difficulty trusting and believing in her sister because of prior incidents. I enjoyed watching the relationship between the two sisters grow (again).

Also included in this novel is the story of Jericho. He is also dealing with prior family issues with his brother. By being helpful and supporting to Finley, Jericho learned how to move past his difficult family problems.

Finally, I learned a lot about addiction through this book. Susan Mallery did an amazing job of showing the different sides of addiction - the addict, family and friends.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. I highly recommend this book!

Susan Mallery's new book, The Sister Effect, was an average read for me. Finley is frustrated with the members of her family and feels she cannot trust any of them. She has been wronged in life and cannot seem to let that go in order to enjoy life. In walks Jericho who also has been betrayed by his own brother and has similar feelings to Finley. Mallery attempts to juxtapose their lives to create a plot. Some of it works, but overall, I am not a fan of any of the characters in the book. They just aren't likable. The story is okay.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Sister Effect
By Susan Mallery
March 7
HQN
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the Arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Loved the cover and the story is exceptional. This book has romance but it also has family drama and addiction which pulled me in.
I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy women’s fiction.
4 stars

What can I say? I loved everything about The Sister Effect. Sisters, who have issues—family members, who have issues, and supportive friends who are always there, giving all of the support that is needed.

Finley and Sloane are sisters—sisters who have taken different paths in their lives. Finley, the responsible, stable one follows behind Sloane and cleans up her messes. That is until she no longer can or wants to. Taking care of Sloane's daughter while Sloane figures out her life gives Finley the right to control Sloane. Or at least that's what Finley thinks and how she feels.

Being there when family needs you the most can sometimes be the hardest thing one can go through. As they all try to figure things out and where they all fit together, relationships are formed and forgiveness is given. I in particular loved the friendship and understanding that developed between Finley and Jericho. I want a friend like that!

I found myself totally immersed in this story and hated to see it end but felt very satisfied when I closed the book. This one got me in all the feels and I was reminded again about how much I love Susan Mallery's stories. I highly recommend The Sister Effect!