Otherwise Engaged - by Susan Mallery (Hardcover)

Wonderful! "Otherwise Engaged" perfectly captures the emotional dynamics between both sides of the mother/daughter relationships. It was a great read and I will definitely be reading it again soon!

I absolutely loved Otherwise Engaged! It is such a heartwarming read. This book is about an unbreakable bond between a mother and daughter. But beneath the surface-level sweetness, the story delivers a surprisingly nuanced and emotionally portrayal of how even the strongest relationships can become complicated by life's big moments-and a few well-intentional secrets.

This is a book that is centered around the relationship of two mother/daughter duos, Shannon/Cindy and Victoria/Ava. The title of it made me think it was more of a romance-based book. It is more of a women's fiction with romantic undertones. At first, I was not sure how the two stories were going to connect, but then there is a secret revealed regarding adoption that enmeshes all four of them. It deals with how each one of them dealt with that issue and a few other issues based on their upbringing and life experiences. Shannon/Cindy had a close relationship and Ava and Victoria had difficulty connecting and communicating. I had one opinion of each character at the beginning and then my feelings changed as the story progressed especially as far as Ava was concerned. There were a lot of ups and downs and it merged their past and present story lines together well. I was able to relate to each character and feel and understand where they were coming from and why and how they dealt with things the way they did. I really liked the four men that were involved with the women in this story line too. I enjoyed reading this book and was pleased with the ending. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Susan Mallery for review purposes. This did not sway my opinion in any way.

This novel is contemporary fiction told with heart and humor and hope. There is some romance within the storyline, but the thrust of the plot is all about mother-daughter relationships and friendships. The four main characters are all fascinating and believable as they muddle through the obstacles to establishing good relationships, including trust. The moms in the story are Ava and Cindy. Ava’s adopted daughter is named Victoria, and she is a firecracker who bucks her mom on just about everything. Cindy’s daughter is Shannon and they are very close, perhaps too close as Shannon wants boundaries and her mom wants to be a part of every piece of her life. The conflicts are intriguing and thought-provoking since they encompass the topics of open adoption and helicopter mothering. I really enjoyed how the author moved smoothly from one character to another, letting me know what was going on in the life of each of them before they encountered one another at a wedding venue. The action was already absorbing and fast-paced, but it quickened even more and kept me turning pages as fast as I could so I could find out how the issues would be resolved. This is a brilliantly written and clever character study as well as a commentary on relationships and how to maintain them in a healthy manner. With insight given in a humorous and genuinely helpful way, this book had me thinking even as I chuckled my way through some of the issues of the four ladies. Although the plot is complex with the intertwining of the lives of the women, I never felt lost but instead I was immersed in each of their lives and clearly able to visualize their difficulty. The multiple layers were part of the charm and what kept me so completely engaged in the novel. This book is unforgettable in its clever plot and dynamic characters and is a definite five plus stars for me. It also lends itself to discussions in book groups and even has a set of questions at the end of the book to start those discussions. I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Mallery focuses on relationships in this book, and many of them. How does it feel to lose a child that was never really yours…And then to bond with a replacement? How does it feel to love your mother, but have no real connection to her? How can you have a great relationship with your Mom and not know how to tell her how smothering she is? And that is just a few. I really enjoyed watching them develop. Like me, you won’t be able to put this one down.

This book was certainly very different from others I have read from Susan Mallory. There was family conflict, friend conflict, secrets kept and revealed, and mostly family love. There are so many feelings going on, especially between mothers and daughters. I don’t know how Mallory comes up with these unusual plots, but they are truly exceptional! Otherwise Engaged will have you crying at times, swooning at times and wanting to scream at the characters, all of which were very believable and real. I really enjoyed this wonderful book.

I have read everything from Susan Mallery for the last 20 years, one would think I would tire of her books….but one would be wrong! I love the way she is able to make such relatable characters! It is one of the reasons I just love her books! Even though Shannon and Victoria have two completely different personalities I can see aspects of myself in each one! I really liked all of the characters in this book, except Ava. I could tell from the beginning she was going to be the outlier. This book makes you think how one decision can alter not only your life but the lives around you. Susan Mallery delivers like only she can, pulling you into these fictional lives and rooting for a happy ending! Great book full of in depth characters!

Susan Mallery has knocked it of the park again! The story of a private adoption gone south and when the mother's and current daughter's meet old memories surface and not all good memories. You will love how it all turned out and they have been able to move on. A must read!