A Million Little Things by Susan Mallery

• Title:  A Million Little Things
• Series:  Mischief Bay #3
• Author:  Susan Mallery
• Pages:  368
• Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
• Published:  February 2017 – MIRA
• Source:  Publisher; Tandem Literary

Description:  From the bestselling author of The Girls of Mischief Bay and The Friends We Keep comes a twisty tale of family dynamics that explores what can go terribly, hysterically wrong when the line between friendship and family blurs…

Zoe Saldivar is more than just single – she’s ALONE. She recently broke up with her longtime boyfriend, she works from home and her best friend Jen is so obsessed with her baby that she has practically abandoned their friendship. The day Zoe accidentally traps herself in her attic with her hungry-looking cat, she realizes that it’s up to her to stop living in isolation.

Her seemingly empty life takes a sudden turn for the complicated – her first new friend is Jen’s widowed mom, Pam. The only guy to give her butterflies in a very long time is Jen’s brother. And meanwhile, Pam is being very deliberately seduced by Zoe’s own smooth-as-tequila father. Pam’s flustered, Jen’s annoyed and Zoe is beginning to think “alone” doesn’t sound so bad, after all.

Friendship isn’t just one thing – it’s a million little things, and no one writes them with more heart and humor than book club sensation Susan Mallery!  (publisher)

My take:  A Million Little Things is the third book in the Mischief Bay trilogy but it can stand alone.

Zoe is frustrated with how she’s let others determine her life and happiness to this point. She’s not happy with her job and isn’t sure she made the right decision in buying a house. After all, she bought it because she hoped her boyfriend would want to get married and they could raise a family there. Then reality stepped in and she broke up with the boyfriend.

Zoe’s friend Jen is married and has a toddler. She also is filled with anxiety about almost everything in her life. Even though her husband, mother and Zoe try to convince her to get help she’s determined to get control of things herself. I really felt sorry for her. Anxiety is not an easy thing to live with and that’s what she tried to do.

Pam, Jen’s mom and a widow of two years, is learning how to live without her husband. She’d been doing a pretty good job of it until her loved ones started throwing challenges her way. They weren’t necessarily bad things but they challenged her idea of how things should be. She was starting to feel out of control. Lucky for her she has a tight-knit group of friends. But then they started to make her question how she was reacting to situations. An interesting predicament, for sure.

I liked this novel about people learning to make adjustments in life. Being able to do that means growth, I think. And don’t we all want to keep growing as we move forward in life? I read the second book in the trilogy and look forward to reading the first at some point. If you’re a fan of Susan Mallery and contemporary fiction I think you’ll enjoy A Million Little Things.

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About the author:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women. Publishers Weekly calls Susan’s prose “luscious and provocative, ” and Booklist says, “Novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling.” Susan lives in Seattle with her husband and her tiny but intrepid toy poodle. Visit her at www.susanmallery.com.

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PRAISE FOR THE MISCHIEF BAY SERIES

“Once again, Susan Mallery has created an inviting world that envelops her readers’ senses and sensibilities… Fans of Jodi Picoult, Debbie Macomber, and Elin Hilderbrand will assuredly fall for The Girls of Mischief Bay.” — Bookreporter on The Girls of Mischief Bay

“Mallery skillfully depicts three very different women in different stages of their romantic relationships who enter into unbreakable friendships… Will appeal to fans of women’s fiction, especially such friendship books as Karen Joy Fowler’s The Jane Austen Book Club.”
— Booklist on The Girls of Mischief Bay

“Fresh and engaging…the writing is strong, the dialogue genuine and believable. There’s a generational subtext that mirrors reality and the complexities of adult relationships…filled with promise of a new serial that’s worth following.” — Fort Worth Star-Telegram on The Girls of Mischief Bay

“Romance superstar Mallery begins a new women’s fiction series with a novel that is both heart-wrenching and warmhearted… A discerning, affecting look at three women facing surprising change and the powerful and uplifting impact of friends.”— Kirkus Reviews on The Girls of Mischief Bay

“You will become totally invested in each of these characters and their struggles and root for a happy ending. Can’t wait for the next installment from Ms. Mallery and The Girls of Mischief Bay!” — Fresh Fictionon The Girls of Mischief Bay

“Mallery’s series debut is an emotional lesson in triumphs and tragedies told in her iconic eloquent style… Her exceptional handling of the climactic hard knocks and joyful events, and her tiny canine co-star, rocked.” — RT Book Reviews on The Girls of Mischief Bay

“Highly original and fascinating page-turner… Mallery brings our inner lives to the surface and evokes deep emotions from her readers.” — RT Book Reviews on The Friends We Keep

“The characters will have you crying, laughing, and falling in love… another brilliantly well-written story.” — San Francisco Book Review on The Friends We Keep

“Gabby, Haley, and Nicole are down-to-earth real women with whom readers will be able to identify, and Mallery successfully balances each story line. The women’s stories and the depth of support they provide one another make this an engaging read to be savored all the way through.” — Publishers Weekly on The Friends We Keep

“[A]n intersecting tale of the ties that bind and strangle…a novel about the relationships among women, friends, sisters, mothers, daughters, and stepchildren, with a strongly woven romantic subplot.” — Library Journal on The Friends We Keep