A Million Little Things

May 8, 2017
Mallery’s third Mischief Bay novel allows readers to witness what happens when friendship and family collide. Zoe Saldivar gave up her old life for an ex and now she’s trying to determine what she wants in her life, love, and career. Isolated and bored by working from home, she even feels distanced from her best friend, Jen Beldon. Jen’s incessant worrying, constant dread, and nonstop hovering over her 18-month-old son, Jack, is pushing away her loved ones, including her mother, widow Pam Eiland, and her husband. Pam is content with her life of friends, family, and travel, and has no plans to bother with dating again, but she can’t help but play matchmaker with her son, Steven, only to have it backfire. The three women have to learn how to navigate their emotions and confront reality when the ties that bind start to unravel. When the lines between characters’ relationships become hazy, the plot becomes more complex, showcasing Mallery’s talent as a storyteller. The women develop as the novel progresses, becoming fleshed-out characters readers will care about.

February 1, 2017

A few months after breaking up with her long-term boyfriend, Zoe Saldivar realizes just how isolated she's become in her life. Her best friend Jen is too busy being a new mom. Working full-time from home, Zoe has no colleagues to discuss anything with and finds herself conversing with her cat frequently. When she confides in Jen's mother, Pam, her life goes from calm to crazy. Pam sets Zoe up with her son Steven, then Zoe finds out her widower father is interested in possibly dating Pam, a widow herself. In the midst of this, Jen seems to be going through postpartum anxiety and is rejecting help from everyone. Zoe, Pam, and Jen must rely on friends, family, and one another to find their inner strength to resolve their issues. VERDICT Mallery is the master of blending emotionally believable characters in realistic situations. Her engaging and comically touching third novel in the "Mischief Bay" series (The Friends We Keep; The Girls of Mischief Bay) continues to satisfy lovers of women's fiction.--Joy Gunn, Paseo Verde Lib., Henderson, NV

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.