The Sister Effect is another winner for the reputable Susan Mallery. She is a fabulous storyteller and shows that with this book. This is a highly emotional story that will pull at your heartstrings. An amazing story of forgiveness and just how hard it is to forgive. There is a lot going on in this one, abandonment, lies, addiction and heartache but Ms. Mallery handles it all with very much sensitivity. The characters are well developed and believable. Even if you do not have a sister it is such a relatable story. I myself have four and found this story amazing.

Thank you NetGalley, HQN and Susan Mallery for this heartening story to read and review. The opinions expressed are my own.
#netgalley. #hqn. #susanmallery. #thesistereffect
#htpinfluencer #arc

I've read a lot of books from Susan Mallery and they are always enjoyable. She creates characters and settings that pull you in from the start and you are just rooting for them all to get their happily ever afters.

The Sister Effect was that and more. This is the story of a multi-generational family in Seattle that features two sisters, as you might suspect. Sloane is the older sister to Finley, and that have had their ups and downs.

What really struck me in this book was Sloane's story, her alcoholism, her recoveries, her group meetings, her absolute raw emotions and foibles. I really thought this was very well written, but will admit that I have no experience with alcoholism so I do not know how accurate or relatable this would be to those with experience.

I read it in one settings, partially because I couldn't put it down and partially because if my kindle went to sleep it reset itself to the beginning of the book. I will always be happy to read a book from this author.

If addiction issues are a trigger this is probably not the book for you. I really enjoyed the complex relationships, though it took me a bit to warm to both sisters. This has all of Mallery’s humor and heart and complex family dynamics and is worth a read.

Wow!
This book was an emotional read for sure.
A story about how alcoholism affects a family and finding forgiveness. The dynamics between the two sisters in the story was poignant and heart-wrenching.
Family is never easy is the theme of The Sister Effect. Susan Mallery writes a solid story about how one family member can change the plans of everyone in the family.
A heartbreaking yet heartwarming showing the struggles everyone goes through on the journey through alcoholism.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book follows the complicated relationship between two sisters, Finley and Sloane, and how life has impacted them. Sloane is a recovering alcoholic who has been trying to better herself. Finley has temporary custody of Sloane's daughter, Aubrey. The relationship between the two sisters is strained due to Sloane’s past, but Sloane hopes to repair their relationship and to see her daughter more.

This book was good, but it dragged on a little in spots. I had to push through the first 30% of the book to gain interest. After I got into the book, I realized that Mallory went heavier than just writing a light romance. She discussed the difficulties of addiction, maintaining sobriety, and how both affect the entire family. It was easy to feel for Sloane, and I felt that Finley was a little hard on Sloane at first. Both had personal growth and grew a better understanding of each other. I loved that they became close after becoming more aware of each other’s feelings. Writing about addiction is not an easy task, and Mallory has done it beautifully. If you are looking for a slow-paced moving story with little romance and a lot of family drama, I would recommend The Sister Effect!

Thank you to NetGallery and to Harlequin Trade Publishing for giving me a copy of the book.

Wow this is a great book!!!!!!!!!!! I can't say enough to describe how amazing this story is. Even though this is a story essentially about sisters and those relationships you will love this book even if you don't have a sister. Susan Mallery is a storytelling genius.

This novel is a family drama with all of the good feelings that come from being around a family with problems, laughs, fun and just dealing with life. Finley is a sympathetic character who works hard at her job in construction and who also works hard at taking care of her young niece Aubrey. Sloane, her sister, is a struggling alcoholic and Aubrey’s mother who recognized her limitations and left Aubrey to be raised by Finley. The drama comes into play because Finley has a problem forgiving those who hurt her or take advantage of her. That means she can’t forgive Sloane or her grandfather who walked out on the two of them. Told with wit and humor and gut-wrenching realistic details, this is a story that is at times haunting in its scope. Dealing with the effects of alcoholism on the other family members as well as betrayal and lack of trust, this novel gave me chills at times as I was reading because of the thought-provoking details that were portrayed. The characters were all fleshed out and so realistic that their dialogue played in my mind like a movie reel. I enjoyed the developing relationships between Finley and her new friend, but the relationship that really touched my heart was that between Sloane and her sister. Both want to mend fences but neither really knows how to start and getting there seemed to be almost impossible at times. I really appreciated the authenticity of the emotions that came into play throughout the book. Fans of the author knows that she writes with humor and heart and this book is filled with both, a memorable ride down a captivating road of life filled with the unexpected. I laughed, I cried, I gave advice to the characters and I shook my head in disbelief at some of their actions. In short, I fell in love with this book and highly recommend it to all readers who want to read a book filled to the brim with rich details and a brilliant plot. It is a compelling read that is well-crafted and multi-layered, dealing with the difficult topics of forgiveness and relationships in a smart and insightful way.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author as part of her review crew. I also received an e-copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, so all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Finley and Sloane's relationship was fractured due to alcoholism and betrayal, As Sloane attempts to pick of the pieces of her life, she's being judged for her mistakes.

Finley's life was shattered by the people closest to her. She finds it difficult to trust and is quick to disapprove to avoid being hurt. Raising Sloane's daughter, moving back in with her mother and trying to accept that her sister has changed, Finley feels her life is spiraling out of control.

Besides love, is there a second chance for family? Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #TheSisterEffect in exchange for an honest review. I enjoy Susan Mallery's novels and my only issue with the story was Finley's unforgiving nature. While recognizing that she was betrayed, I found her uncompromising attitude evasive. She was so negative that I found myself siding with Sloane.

It was poignant, it made me smile and moved me to tears. Dysfunctional family, different way of coping, substance abuse and trust.
There's a lot in this story, but there's also a lot of hope.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This is such an emotionally compelling story. This book delves into the complexities of family dramas and dealing with alcoholism. I loved the interactions of the characters. It was messy and realistic. There are no easy answers. The writing is realistic and pulls out all the feelings. It’s a wonderful book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Sister Effect is the latest family drama incredible author @susanmallery. This book has two sisters who have followed very paths. Finley is the sensible hardworking sister who works in construction and enjoys flipping homes. She’s the guardian of her little 8 year old niece, Aubrey after her mother and Finley’s sister Sloane is imprisoned. Sloane is an alcoholic and has issues holding a job and stability, especially the kind her own daughter needs. Their mother had dreams of Broadway stardom and she often abandoned her kids with her father when she had an audition. Many of these issues have effected Finley for years, even as an adult. Sloane is finally getting sober and working at a diner. She has cleaned up her life and she’s working on spending more time with Aubrey.

Finley is working on a new housing development where she meets Jericho. He’s the owner of the company and going through his own crisis. His wife just left him for his brother and he’s very upset about this. His family wants him to move on and be happy for them, but he can’t help but feel betrayed. Jericho and Finley bond over their crummy situations and they get closer over work and their personal issues. Their relationship is so fun to watch bloom. They both really need an outlet to talk about their issues and they provide great sounding boards for each other.

Sloane was a fascinating character. She explains how she got caught up in alcohol and how she spiraled our of control. The author really got in the head of an alcoholic, especially one who wants redemption and feels deeply sorry for her action. I really felt for both Finley and Sloane. Finley is such a good person, but she really took a lot to heart during her life to help Sloane. She was a wonderful auntie to Aubrey, who was very lucky to have Finley.

Thank to you so much to @htpbooks and @hqnvooks for my advanced copy.

A Wonderful story about love and forgiveness and how alcoholism can affect a family. Susan Mallery is always a must read.

The Sister Effect by Susan Mallery addresses many issues that those who are addicted, as well as those who love them, have to deal with. Told with compassion and honesty.

The last two months I’ve been on a spicy book binge so coming into a women’s fiction book was a drastic change and I should have prepared myself better for the switch. This book was very good I enjoyed the over all plot. The reason for the 3 stars is because this story took me longer to get through. This was a story where you had multiple POV and you had to pay attention and every character had a lot going on. I loved the friendships formed, the ex wife and brother drama, the grandpa drama, the sister relationship the niece an aunt relationship. There were several dynamics in this book and they were all touched on very well. There is some romance but it is closed door. It is 428 pages so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to read when picking this out! Definitely recommend!

I'm suffering from book hangover this morning after finishing The Sister Effect. What an emotional story of family dynamics when a member is an alcoholic. The addiction affects each member of the family especially Sloane's sister Finlay who has had her life turned upside down due to her sisters illness.

The Sister Effect tells us about both sisters. How they struggle to repair their relationship and rebuild their lives. Susan Mallery tells us the story in a compassionate storyline refinding themselves and love along the way. . I will be thinking about this one for a long time.

Five stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley for allowing me to read this for a fair and honest review.

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭑
The Sister Effect by Susan Mallery is an emotional family drama and romance that is intense as it focuses on forgiveness, addiction, and redemption.

Story Recap:
Finley McGowan is raising her eight-year-old niece, Aubrey, and she is determined to keep her safe and raise her in a supportive and stable home. Unlike the way she and her sister, Sloane was raised. Their mother was in and out of their lives, and their grandfather, took over until he left them for good and never contacted them again.

Meanwhile, Finley gets closer to Jericho, a local builder. He has family issues of his own. Jericho is recently divorced after his brother admitted to having an affair with his wife, Lauren. Now Jericho’s mother wants him to forgive and forget.

Sloane is about to reach her one-year sober mark, and she’s ready to see more of Aubrey. But Finlay doesn’t believe Sloane has changed enough to raise her daughter on her own. Or is Finlay just unable to forgive Sloane?


My Thoughts:
The main theme of this book is forgiveness. Specifically forgiving family for unforgivable transgressions. And what does forgiveness look like?

I loved the different stories that are combined in this book. These characters are very well-developed and I enjoyed their interactions. Finlay lost everything due to her sister’s illness, and she took in her niece without a second thought. I thought Finlay was difficult to like at first, but as the story progressed, I realized why she is the way she is, and she grew on me and I loved her story by the end of the book.

Sloane was my favorite character. She is very flawed, but I thought her story was the most emotional and I felt for her and her struggles.
Families are messy, and this family is very messy! But, I loved their story and their journey to redemption and acceptance.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend The Sister Effect to anyone who enjoys Women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This story by Susan Mallery is a story about the complex relationship between two sisters, Finley and Sloane. Finley is the guardian of her niece and has sacrificed several aspects of her life to raise this little girl. Sloane has been working through her past as an alcoholic and the difficult road to sobriety. The story adds a few other layers of family drama with their grandfather also re-entering their lives after many years away. While Finley is balancing her feelings and frustrations towards her sister, a man enters her life as a potential love interest.
I enjoyed this book but thought the middle of the book got a little slow and repetitive as it kept reiterating the difficulties in maintaining sobriety and supporting someone working towards sobriety.

Susan Mallery’s latest book “The Sister Effect is my book #8 by her. I’m definitely in the minority with this one with my 3 star rating. To me, it dragged on and on and I had a hard time connecting with ANY of the characters. It’s about 2 sisters, one struggles with addiction and the other sister takes care of the daughter for her until she gets her act together. Lots of family drama. That’s basically it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. Looking forward to Susan’s next release.

First-I love Susan Mallery’s books and The Sister Effect was as wonderful as I hoped it would be. Great character and plot development and a truly enjoyable read. Definitely recommend! Thank you to NetGalley, Susan Mallery and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5

This was not what I was expecting based on the cover. I thought it was going to be a light, fun beach read. Instead, it was about much heavier matters - alcoholism and complicated family dynamics. It was a good, fast read. It seemed kind of choppy, but overall it was interesting.

Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for sending this book for review consideration.