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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
Ronni Sunshine has summoned her daughters home. The aging actress is ill, and she wants her daughters by her side. This, however, will be easier said than done, as her three children--Nell, Meredith, and Lizzy--are estranged, both from each other and their mother: the result of a traumatic childhood. Even Ronni will now readily admit she focused on her acting career and beauty rather than her daughters. Her constant belittlement and pressure on the girls made them turn on each other as well. Nell lives the closest to her mother, on a nearby farm, and her son River is in grad school. Middle child Meredith spent her childhood struggling with her weight, thanks to endless biting comments from Ronni; she fled to England and is now engaged. Youngest Lizzie escaped most of her mother's wrath and appears to be the "golden child": she's a successful chef and celebrity, with a TV show and line of related products, but her marriage and personal life aren't all that they seem. Frustrated by their mother's long history of hypochondria, the girls reluctantly return home, excepting to find her fine. However, it seems this time Ronni may be telling the truth: she's really sick. Can the Sunshine sisters set aside their differences? And can they ever forgive their mother?
In some ways, I'm not sure why I keep giving Jane Green books a chance. I liked [b:Summer Secrets|23245587|Summer Secrets|Jane Green|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1426128094s/23245587.jpg|42788868] well-enough, but was really let down by [b:Saving Grace|21853667|Saving Grace|Jane Green|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1415428645s/21853667.jpg|41125551] and [b:Falling|28110094|Falling|Jane Green|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1492239351s/28110094.jpg|48117895]. I was intrigued that in her acknowledgements, Green mentions that this is the first book in while where she's felt like herself. I went in hoping that this was true, but still wary, and truthfully, this wariness may have clouded some of my thoughts and feelings about the book.
Overall, this is a summery read, though it does deal with some serious subject matter. If you're looking for a book that will surprise you, this isn't it. Most of these plot points I saw coming from a few miles away; I predicted the majority of the twists and turns before they happened. And, truly, I think the ending is a foregone conclusion. Green relies a bit to heavily on some tropes, as well. Serious older sister? Check. Insecure middle sister? Check. Flighty younger sister? She's here, too, don't worry.
Still, this was a fun book--despite the dark topic at its core--and I found myself compelled to read through the second half in nearly one sitting. Despite some of the transparency of the characters, I was oddly invested in their lives. The novel starts out with a brief glimpse of Ronni summoning her daughters home, then goes back in the past, allowing us to learn about the Sunshine family via various snippets from the sisters at different points in time. In this way, we sort of catch up with the family fast-forward style--it's like a cheat sheet of sorts. It also allows us to get to know each sister a bit better and explore their relationship with their mother (and other sisters). It's easy to see how much influence Ronni had on their lives and how she shaped them into the women they are today.
The girls can certainly be frustrating at times. Poor, needy Meredith drove me nearly mad, with her insecurities and inability to stand up for herself. There's also a point in the book where Meredith magically cleans up after a party (everything is fixed) and later loses a large amount of weight (everything is fixed, again!). I would have liked to have seen a little more plot realism. It was also hard to see how anyone could be quite as big of a doormat as Meredith, even with her mother's influence. And, truly, Ronni is pretty bad. It's an interesting technique--learning how terrible of a mother she is after we're told in the beginning of the novel that she's sick. But, in this way, we're allowed to see how the sisters were alienated by their poor upbringing and how everyone has reached the point we are at today.
Eventually, we reach the present day, with the girls learning about their mother's illness and coming to grips with reality. And, Ronni, of course, must grapple with the kind of mother she was to her children. She's a surprisingly compelling character considering how awful she was to her children, so that's a testament to Green's characterization. To me, the novel picked up a bit more in the present day time period. There were still some silly, unbelievable moments, but I truly did find myself invested in Meredith, Nell, and Lizzy (and Ronni).
The book does wrap things up too easily, as I stated. It's often quite trite and cliche, so you have to go in prepared. Think Lifetime movie, wrapped up in a bow. Still, it's fun at times and certainly a quick read. Well-suited for the beach or a vacation.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!); it is available everywhere as of 06/06/2017.
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In some ways, I'm not sure why I keep giving Jane Green books a chance. I liked [b:Summer Secrets|23245587|Summer Secrets|Jane Green|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1426128094s/23245587.jpg|42788868] well-enough, but was really let down by [b:Saving Grace|21853667|Saving Grace|Jane Green|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1415428645s/21853667.jpg|41125551] and [b:Falling|28110094|Falling|Jane Green|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1492239351s/28110094.jpg|48117895]. I was intrigued that in her acknowledgements, Green mentions that this is the first book in while where she's felt like herself. I went in hoping that this was true, but still wary, and truthfully, this wariness may have clouded some of my thoughts and feelings about the book.
Overall, this is a summery read, though it does deal with some serious subject matter. If you're looking for a book that will surprise you, this isn't it. Most of these plot points I saw coming from a few miles away; I predicted the majority of the twists and turns before they happened. And, truly, I think the ending is a foregone conclusion. Green relies a bit to heavily on some tropes, as well. Serious older sister? Check. Insecure middle sister? Check. Flighty younger sister? She's here, too, don't worry.
Still, this was a fun book--despite the dark topic at its core--and I found myself compelled to read through the second half in nearly one sitting. Despite some of the transparency of the characters, I was oddly invested in their lives. The novel starts out with a brief glimpse of Ronni summoning her daughters home, then goes back in the past, allowing us to learn about the Sunshine family via various snippets from the sisters at different points in time. In this way, we sort of catch up with the family fast-forward style--it's like a cheat sheet of sorts. It also allows us to get to know each sister a bit better and explore their relationship with their mother (and other sisters). It's easy to see how much influence Ronni had on their lives and how she shaped them into the women they are today.
The girls can certainly be frustrating at times. Poor, needy Meredith drove me nearly mad, with her insecurities and inability to stand up for herself. There's also a point in the book where Meredith magically cleans up after a party (everything is fixed) and later loses a large amount of weight (everything is fixed, again!). I would have liked to have seen a little more plot realism. It was also hard to see how anyone could be quite as big of a doormat as Meredith, even with her mother's influence. And, truly, Ronni is pretty bad. It's an interesting technique--learning how terrible of a mother she is after we're told in the beginning of the novel that she's sick. But, in this way, we're allowed to see how the sisters were alienated by their poor upbringing and how everyone has reached the point we are at today.
Eventually, we reach the present day, with the girls learning about their mother's illness and coming to grips with reality. And, Ronni, of course, must grapple with the kind of mother she was to her children. She's a surprisingly compelling character considering how awful she was to her children, so that's a testament to Green's characterization. To me, the novel picked up a bit more in the present day time period. There were still some silly, unbelievable moments, but I truly did find myself invested in Meredith, Nell, and Lizzy (and Ronni).
The book does wrap things up too easily, as I stated. It's often quite trite and cliche, so you have to go in prepared. Think Lifetime movie, wrapped up in a bow. Still, it's fun at times and certainly a quick read. Well-suited for the beach or a vacation.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley (thank you!); it is available everywhere as of 06/06/2017.
Decent women's fiction that includes too much in 350 pages: three estranged sisters, a narcissistic mother, flashbacks to childhood, adolescence and young adulthood, as well as numerous romances and heartbreaks. It all comes together in a few days when the dying mother calls the daughters to her side. Points for showing the tension between anger at the mother for all she failed to do and vestigial love that can't quite be obliterated. But giving each daughter a romantic challenge, plus making their peace with the mother, plus gradually reconciling with each other - the end result was just a little too rushed and shallow.
Recommended as a good beach read that doesn't require too much concentration.
Recommended as a good beach read that doesn't require too much concentration.
It didn't seem to know what kind of book it wanted to be or maybe I just outgrew chick lit.
**I received this as part of the Penguin First to Read program.**
I discovered Jane Green when I was in high school so I have been reading her books for a number of years. I enjoyed this book and while it is not my favorite of her novels, it was till a nice, quick read. While I was not a fan of all of the sisters (Lizzy), I understood their personalities and appreciated their journey. There were some aspects that were somewhat unbelievable such as the time frame for reconciliation (three days), but it did not detract from the novel. All in all, it was a light, enjoyable read and would recommend to fans of women's fiction.
I discovered Jane Green when I was in high school so I have been reading her books for a number of years. I enjoyed this book and while it is not my favorite of her novels, it was till a nice, quick read. While I was not a fan of all of the sisters (Lizzy), I understood their personalities and appreciated their journey. There were some aspects that were somewhat unbelievable such as the time frame for reconciliation (three days), but it did not detract from the novel. All in all, it was a light, enjoyable read and would recommend to fans of women's fiction.
I think I’ve said before that I enjoy novels about Adult adults partly because it usually gets away from the YA tropes I’m used to and more because it reduces my anxiety about approaching the big 30 in five-ish years. Anyway! I really liked the characters in the book. Ronni, Nell, Meredith, and Lizzie are all very different from each other (though not so much with Ronni and Lizzie) and I enjoyed their different personalities and inner and outer lives being presented on the page. I loved the character development and the plot. I liked that Ronni recognizes she can’t change the past or how she screwed things up but she does what she can to make things better in the future. She wasn’t purified or whatever by bringing her daughters together but she is improved and her last acts were probably the best of her life.
If you love movies, you probably know Ronni Sunshine. She's done a bunch and, while she's not super famous, you'd know her if you saw her...but that was years ago. Now she has ALS and she wants two things: her daughters to forgive her (and become close, which they currently are not) and for them to help her die. Neither of those are likely.
There are few authors who are more of a summer go to for me than Jane Green. While this is one of her heavier books, it's also incredibly fun. And I love the sisters--Nell, who seems incredibly cold; Meredith, the people pleaser who is about to marry a total jerk; Lizzy, the famous one who seems to be repeating their mom's mistakes. And I even love Ronni, probably because she wasn't my mom.
This is a fun novel that will also make you think. That is my perfect vacation read! (Don't feel you have to wait for a beach or pool or plane, though; this is great any time.)
Highly recommended.
There are few authors who are more of a summer go to for me than Jane Green. While this is one of her heavier books, it's also incredibly fun. And I love the sisters--Nell, who seems incredibly cold; Meredith, the people pleaser who is about to marry a total jerk; Lizzy, the famous one who seems to be repeating their mom's mistakes. And I even love Ronni, probably because she wasn't my mom.
This is a fun novel that will also make you think. That is my perfect vacation read! (Don't feel you have to wait for a beach or pool or plane, though; this is great any time.)
Highly recommended.
I write Jane green off...but this one was pretty good! Many ways predictable but I enjoyed it.
Jane Green's books are so comforting and good for a specific demographic, and she does a great job staying in her lane and exploring it. In this book, she reaches a little bit, in an almost completely respectful way,* and I think it pays off.
* mild mild spoiler: guess what happens to the very tall, strong, un-made-up sister who wears her hair in a ponytail?
* mild mild spoiler: guess what happens to the very tall, strong, un-made-up sister who wears her hair in a ponytail?