The Stepsisters

Written by Susan Mallery

Narrated by Tanya Eby

Who better to mend a broken heart than your sister?

When Daisy’s dad married Sage's mum, Daisy was thrilled to get a new sister. Except Sage was beautiful and popular, everything Daisy was not, and she made sure Daisy knew it.

Sage found herself living in a palatial home where she felt she didn't belong. She didn't have her new sister’s intelligence so she used her popularity as a weapon, putting Daisy down at every opportunity. After the divorce, the stepsisters' rivalry continued until the final straw: Daisy married Sage's first love, and Sage fled to Europe.

Eighteen years later, Daisy never expects—or wants—to see Sage again. But brought together by an accident involving the little sister they have in common they must learn to put aside their differences. Slowly, the stepsisters begin to view the past through one another's eyes and long buried feelings are revealed. Until their fragile truce is threatened by one careless act that could have devastating consequences….

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: May 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9780263299328

Susan Mallery

#1 NYT bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives—family, friendship, romance. She's known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages.Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her at SusanMallery.com.

Reviews for The Stepsisters

[jynell-71874 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like to dive into books without reading much about them and did the same with Susan Mallery's "The Stepsisters". What I thought was a thriller was not. Instead, it was a fabulous book about sisters/step-sisters coming together to take care of one of their own and putting their past differences aside.

I don't have step-sisters but I do have step-parents and this one really hit me with the feels. As a nurse I also understand the bond caregivers can form when handling situations like what the girls were dealing with. The author does a wonderful job of expressing the character's feelings.

This is definitely a book that you won't want to put aside!

[bookanonjeff · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Strong Character Study With Maybe Not Quite Enough Introspection. This is one of those strong women-bonding-as-character-study type books where we get to see three very different women thrown together as a result of a family that blended and then dissolved years ago, and how that blending and dissolution affected all of them and even their common parents (one step father, one stepmother, both of whom combine to be the natural parents of the third sister). As someone who has a cousin that is actually in the exact position of the third sister - both parents having been previously divorced and having kids from those marriages - this was particularly interesting. As with the other Mallery book I've read so far, she does excellent work keeping things mostly realistic, and really my only fault here - potentially intentional, as it is still a realistic scenario - is that one of the three sisters perhaps doesn't look into herself as deeply as the other two do. Ultimately an engaging and satisfying book, this is thus very much recommended.

[fredreeca · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Daisy’s marriage is falling apart. She is struggling to keep it together when her dad calls and wants her to take in her injured half sister. Cassidy has fallen off a mountain and has multiple injuries and needs constant care. But, along with Cassidy comes Sage. Sage is Daisy’s ex-stepsister. They didn’t get along years ago and it looks like they are falling back into the old pattern.There is so much about this story that I loved. Each character has good and bad qualities. This makes them so real and adorable. I enjoyed reading about their growth and when they begin to trust each other, their interactions had me laughing out loud!Now, Daisy’s husband, Jordan, is not someone I enjoyed at all. I found him whiny and down right selfish. But the way the sisters come together to support Daisy just made my day!Need a good book about over coming the past and learning to love and trust…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

[bettytaylor56 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love a good story about sisters, even if they are stepsisters…and a half-sister. When Daisy’s mother died, her dad married Joanne who had a daughter named Sage. Then Joanne and Daisy’s father had a daughter they named Cassidy. Sage was mean to Daisy at school, and Cassidy idolized Sage. The sisters have been estranged since their parents divorced and had no desire to reconnect. But now the three women are thrown together as adults. Can they get beyond the past hurts and develop a good relationship as adults? Oh, did I mention that Joanne, the evil stepmother, is the instigator of much of the drama? With Joanne as the “mother figure”, no wonder the sisters have relationship and trust issues.I really enjoyed this book. It was full of heart and made me really care about the three women. The characters are very believable, flaws and all. I felt sad for them as they dealt with their wounded hearts; I laughed and rejoiced with them as they had real “sister moments”. My heart broke for them as they continued to mess up and then dealt with the guilt of their actions. Their behaviors shifted as they came to see each other as adults rather than as children. I give it a 4-stars rating because I loved the interaction of the sisters, but it was predictable. This is a perfect light beach read.

[scoutmomskf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Terrific drama-filled story of love, family, choices, and second chances. I could not put the book down. Years ago, when Daisy was eight years old, her widowed father remarried. His new wife had a daughter, Sage, who was a year older than Daisy. While Daisy was excited about having a sister, Sage did not return the sentiment. Instead, she did everything possible to make Daisy's life miserable. Several years later, their parents added Cassidy to the family, a half-sister to both girls. Even then, Daisy couldn't catch a break, as Cassidy aligned herself with Sage. The relationships broke down completely when their parents divorced. Sage continued her tormenting all through high school, where she became the stereotypical mean girl. Twelve years after the last time they saw each other, circumstances bring the three women back together. When Cassidy is badly injured in an accident, their father arranges for her to recover at Daisy's house. To make matters worse, Sage is back in LA after the end of her third marriage, so she'll be dropping in every day to see Cassidy. The icing on the cake: Daisy is married to Sage's high school boyfriend, who just walked out on their marriage with no explanation. I loved seeing the changing relationships among the three women. All of them have vivid memories of their childhoods, and each is wary of their new circumstances. Daisy resents her father's assumption that she'll take Cassidy in but caves to his expectations and hopes for the best. Sage is at a crossroads in her life and must decide what direction to take. Cassidy is the one who was caught in the middle and forced to choose sides. With Cassidy's arrival at Daisy's home and Sage's frequent visits, Daisy takes a good look at her choices. She can continue to keep them at a distance or take the high road and see if the relationships could change. There is still a part of her that longs for the sisters Daisy wanted when she was a child. Can she take a chance that enough time has passed that they can overcome the issues that drove them apart? I enjoyed seeing Daisy slowly open her heart to both Sage and Cassidy. It wasn't an easy process, and there were a few bumps along the way. One of the things I loved was the support Daisy received from them as she dealt with her husband's actions. The author is great with these kinds of situations, notably in her Fool's Gold series, and I always enjoy the vision of women looking out for each other. As the weeks went on, the three women experienced a growing love and trust, as they discovered that not everything in the past was exactly the way it seemed. After the end of her third marriage, Sage returned to LA, looking for a new direction for her life. Raised by her mother to look out for number one, Sage discovered she didn't want to live that way any longer. Stuck living with her mom, Joanne, for now, Sage has plans for her future that entail significant changes. She looks back at her past with regrets over the things she did and wonders if there's a way to make amends. I liked seeing her reach out to Daisy, admit to her mistakes, and confess to what drove her. Sage's connection with Cassidy also changed as she helped Cassidy see the past through different eyes. I ached for Sage as her insecurities led her to make a hurtful mistake with terrible consequences. Now she must decide whether to try to fix what she did or run away from the family she loves. Cassidy is the youngest and never felt she fit in on either side of her family. As a result, she fears any commitment and uses her work as a travel writer to hide from it. Her childhood, heavily influenced by her mother's attitude, left her often feeling invisible. She came across as quite a brat at the beginning of the book, but with some straight talk from Sage, she discovered a connection she didn't know she craved. I especially enjoyed seeing Cassidy connect with Daisy's kids. Her insecurities keep Cassidy from believing that any relationship lasts. It wouldn't be a Susan Mallery book without some romance. Cassidy has a boyfriend that has her running scared. She loves him, though she won't admit it and won't give in because "it won't last." Desean's love for Cassidy gave him a tremendous amount of patience as he tried to get past her issues. I loved his conversation with Sage and Daisy and how they encouraged him not to give up. I loved how her sisters' support helped Cassidy get past her fears. After three marriages, Sage has pretty much given up on relationships and plans to concentrate on her future instead. She doesn't expect to run into a high school classmate living next door to her mother. Adam is a widower still grieving the loss of his wife but can't help reacting to Sage. She, too, is attracted to him. With neither looking for a relationship, they settle on being friends. I enjoyed seeing them spend time together. Their teasing banter was fun to follow, and they clearly had a lot in common. Adam is a refuge for Sage when her mother gets to be too much. There is also a sweet scene at their high school reunion when Adam helps Sage escape the clutches of an old friend. I liked seeing the feelings between them deepen and ached for Sage and her fear that she'd do something to mess it all up. When her fear comes to pass, Sage must face those she hurt and hope for forgiveness. As for Daisy, her husband of twelve years blindsided her when he moved out with no explanation and no notice other than a text. Jordan initially refuses to tell her why simply telling her "you know why" when she has no idea. Even with counseling, he continues his passive-aggressive attitude. The longer Jordan stays away, the more Daisy begins to suspect that her marriage is over. I liked seeing her go from practically begging him to come back to confronting him over his continued misbehavior. I loved seeing her finally put her foot down. Jordan was quite the man-baby, and I got very tired of seeing him try to blame Daisy for everything and whine about not being the center of her attention. The other character that was unlikeable was Sage and Cassidy's mother, Joanne. During her marriage to Daisy's dad, she was nasty to Daisy and sabotaged Daisy's relationships with Sage and Cassidy, which continued after the divorce. In the current day, we see Joanne in her pursuit of the net rich man she can latch onto. She continually pushes Sage to do the same thing, including urging her to go after Jordan. Joanne's actions once again attempted to sabotage Sage's relationship, all to suit her own desires. The epilogue was good. I liked catching up with everyone after the dust settled.

[lorikboyd · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 StarsBeing a blended family must be hard, but add a toxic mom/stepmom to the mix and it’s brutal. The sisters have never gotten along (thanks to the Mom) but after all these years, they are learning to see things for what they were/are. Sisters thrown together after one suffers an accident. Can they learn to love each other?Talk about flaws! These characters have quite a few! Can’t say any are really likable…spoiled, clueless, mean. The ‘mom’ is just a horrible person. I was surprised with the direction the author took one of the characters, and I must admit I wasn’t a fan of it! But it did show another character’s true worth. Definitely a line was crossed. Enjoyable for a quick, summer read. As always I enjoyed this author’s writing style, but the story isn’t a favorite. Thanks to Ms. Mallery, Harlequin Books and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone!

[cclpad · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Susan Mallery is one of my writing examples. She puts out excellent books regularly. She keeps in contact with her readers. She writes stories that touch the heart. And her newest, THE STEPSISTERS, is another wonderful example of her women’s fiction.Daisy and Sage were stepsisters, once upon a time, when Daisy’s father was married to Sage’s mother. Daisy and Sage share a half-sister, Cassidy. Now they’re all grown up and haven’t seen each other in years and are perfectly fine with that.But when Cassidy needs help, Daisy and Sage agree to put the past behind them and focus on their sister. They’re all three surprised to learn that things they thought they knew about the past, and each other, may not be the whole truth. When a thoughtless and selfish act threatens their newfound friendship, they must decide if their family is worth fighting for.While I don’t have stepsisters (or brothers), I do have half-siblings, though we were always treated as full members of the same family. Family dynamics can be tricky to navigate and Mallery shows that so well in THE STEPSISTERS.I enjoyed this one a lot and highly recommend it!--------I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, but was not induced to review it, favorably or not.

[bookchickdi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When you read a novel by Susan Mallery, you know you're getting a story where you will care about the characters. Her latest book, The Stepsisters, is no exception.Daisy is having a very bad day. Her husband Jordan blindsided her with a text telling her he was moving out, when she picked up her sick eight year-old daughter Krissa from school the little girl vomited all over the car, herself, and Daisy, and then her car wouldn't start and who comes to her rescue but her former stepsister Sage, a woman she dislikes and hasn't seen in years.Sage moved back home to LA with her mother after her third divorce from an Italian count. Now broke and working at a designer clothing boutique waiting on horrible rich women, Sage is stuck and has to figure out what her next step in life is and how to keep her mother from stealing her expensive designer handbags that Sage plans on selling to make money.When Daisy was just a young girl, her father Wallace married Sage's mother to give Daisy a mother after her own died. Sage was jealous of Wallace's love for Daisy, and treated Daisy badly. Sage was beautiful and popular in high school, and Daisy was smart and kind.Sage's mom and Daisy's dad had a daughter of their own, Cassidy, who is now a travel writer. When Cassidy has a bad fall on a trip, Wallace asks Daisy to take her into their family home to recuperate. With her own life in turmoil, Daisy is reluctant to take in Cassidy who, like Sage, really dislikes Daisy.So the three women circle warily around each other, back in each other's lives and unhappy about it. The one thing they can all agree on is that they adore Krissa and Daisy's 10 year-old son Ben. Can the children bring these sisters back together again?The Stepsisters is a wonderful book that will take you away from your own troubles as you read about these three sisters. Daisy wants to make her marriage work, and has no clue why her husband left. Sage needs to discover why she marries for money and not love, and Cassidy has to figure out why she ran away from a terrific guy who truly cares for her. Why do the sisters keep making relationship mistakes?Mallery's characters are always well-drawn and you feel like they could be your neighbors. (Well, maybe not Daisy, she lives in a huge mansion.) She has a knack for pulling you into her story, and making you root for her characters to get their lives together and live happily ever after. You'll want to put The Stepsisters in your bag for your next flight or beach day, and pick up an extra copy for your sister.Thanks to Harlequin Books for putting me on Susan Mallery's tour.

[cherylk_44 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have to say that author, Susan Mallery is back in her top form with this book. Everyone was engaging in this story. There is a mixture of characters from Daisy and Sage to their sister, Cassidy and even the men, Jordan and Adam. Everyone was not perfect but they were very much likable and relatable. Readers will find someone in this book that they can relate to. I know I found myself in a way relating a little bit to each of the three women. When it came to Daisy and Jordan; I could see myself in both of their shoes as I have experienced emotions from both angles. There is a discussion question that mentions Cassidy not being a fleshed out main character arc. Explain how Cassidy changed from beginning to end. In the beginning Cassidy was bitter about her situation and having to be around Daisy. This is because she never truly gave Daisy a chance. Sage's resentment towards Daisy growing up was projected onto Cassidy, who then took it out on Daisy. All three women discovered that they had different points of view of their childhood. They were too busy having tunnel vision that they could not see the bigger picture until they stepped back and saw things from each's point of views. The Stepsisters is sure to delight Susan Mallery fans!