Here’s a quick recap of The Steps (first book in Rachel Cohn’s series):
Plot Summary
Annabel, a twelve-year-old from New York City, expects a cozy Christmas break filled with skating, sales, and hanging with her best friend. But her plans derail when her best friend cancels, and her mom decides she should spend the holiday in Sydney with her dad, who’s remarried and has a new family.
In Australia, Annabel meets “the Steps” — her stepsister Lucy (also twelve and fashion-challenged), a five-year-old stepbrother, and a baby half-sister. She’s bitter and determined to win her dad back from this new family setup.
As Annabel spends more time with her new siblings, she starts to see that they’re not trying to replace her — Lucy misses her real dad too. Annabel grapples with jealousy, disappointment, and the realization that her father’s happiness in Australia doesn't erase his love for her.
The book ends with Annabel witnessing a family reunion — her dad, mom, and all the Steps in Sydney — a moment of reconciliation. While it wraps up more tightly than real life often does, it shows Annabel learning to share her father’s love without losing herself.
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