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kdurham2's review
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Dancing on the cusp of historical fiction, this book has two timelines. One takes place in 1979 as Jackie's uncle is dealing with the feeling of a career that is over as his last album wasn't as successful as he believed it should be. The other storyline is 1999 and Jackie's aunt has passed away and has left the estate to her to do with it what she pleases and she returns after a twenty year absence and relives that fateful summer that spent her life spinning.
First, I always love a dual timeline book where the reader gets to experience two moments in time. I appreciate when the reader knows early on the connection between the two timelines, but the mystery is within one timeline or another! In this case, Jackie in 1999 is visiting these places that meant so much and dealing with some emotions that she clearly tucked away for a long time.
Dancing on the cusp of historical fiction, this book has two timelines. One takes place in 1979 as Jackie's uncle is dealing with the feeling of a career that is over as his last album wasn't as successful as he believed it should be. The other storyline is 1999 and Jackie's aunt has passed away and has left the estate to her to do with it what she pleases and she returns after a twenty year absence and relives that fateful summer that spent her life spinning.
First, I always love a dual timeline book where the reader gets to experience two moments in time. I appreciate when the reader knows early on the connection between the two timelines, but the mystery is within one timeline or another! In this case, Jackie in 1999 is visiting these places that meant so much and dealing with some emotions that she clearly tucked away for a long time.
machadofam8's review
4.0
Well this was another awesome book with which to start off 2022. And another where I did not want it to end.
melistocrat's review
4.0
4.5 stars. I loved this book. It felt like the perfect summer read. It was easy to get lost in the characters and the storyline and imagine what the landscape was like. Enjoyed the slight bit of romance thrown in. Highly recommend.
twhittie's review
3.0
Enjoyable enough that I was interested the whole time. There were a few twists I didn’t expect that I’m not sure were that believable, but overall a decent read.
chloecamillewittenberg's review
5.0
This was a slow burn summer story, which worked perfectly for the tone. It was filled with hope and wonder and sadness, but the friendship between cousins? That’ll always get 5 stars from me. Cousin friendships are the most precious thing, and this book showed how important it is.
This definitely gives a less depressing Daisy Jones feel, but very much stands on its own. I love the tale that was woven here!
This definitely gives a less depressing Daisy Jones feel, but very much stands on its own. I love the tale that was woven here!
rstafeil's review
4.0
Beautiful writing and I eally enjoyed the story, the characters, and the setting.
leslico's review
5.0
The majority of this book I would rate as "good", and probably give it 4 stars. I enjoyed the journey back to 1999 and 1979, and funny things about these time periods, as well as the mystery of the story. But the ending is simply superb, and raised my rating to 4.5. A truly lovely story!
purrfectpages's review
3.0
Jackie Pierce was looking for an escape when she went to her uncle’s house in 1979. The Sandcastle and her musician uncle represented everything her current life wasn’t- freeing, inspiring and creative. A fish out of water, she initially struggles, but so desperately wants to fit into this new world- and to be noticed by her mysteriously beautiful cousin, Willa.
At first Willa remains just out of reach. Jackie is convinced Willa thinks she’s the epitome of uncool, until an explained misunderstanding puts them on a new path of friendship. Suddenly the summer turns into everything Jackie hoped it would be, until summer’s end, when everything changes.
Fast forward twenty years where Jackie finds out she’s inherited her uncle’s property.
She returns to the land, and its painful memories, in order to prep it for sale. But Jackie’s plans are slightly derailed. She learns her deceased aunt promised a young producer he could use the space to record a tribute album to her legendary uncle. Forced to stick things out longer than expected, Jackie has to face her unresolved feelings towards that summer and its secrets. But even Jackie herself doesn’t know the whole truth of what happened all those years ago.
Lady Sunshine was a genre bending read. On one hand, it’s straight forward historical fiction. But it’s also a coming of age story, as well as a part time mystery. I found myself wanting a bit more out of the musical aspect of this book as this is what drew me to the title to begin with. The wrap up made the journey worthwhile though.
At first Willa remains just out of reach. Jackie is convinced Willa thinks she’s the epitome of uncool, until an explained misunderstanding puts them on a new path of friendship. Suddenly the summer turns into everything Jackie hoped it would be, until summer’s end, when everything changes.
Fast forward twenty years where Jackie finds out she’s inherited her uncle’s property.
She returns to the land, and its painful memories, in order to prep it for sale. But Jackie’s plans are slightly derailed. She learns her deceased aunt promised a young producer he could use the space to record a tribute album to her legendary uncle. Forced to stick things out longer than expected, Jackie has to face her unresolved feelings towards that summer and its secrets. But even Jackie herself doesn’t know the whole truth of what happened all those years ago.
Lady Sunshine was a genre bending read. On one hand, it’s straight forward historical fiction. But it’s also a coming of age story, as well as a part time mystery. I found myself wanting a bit more out of the musical aspect of this book as this is what drew me to the title to begin with. The wrap up made the journey worthwhile though.
barbistull's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I listened to the audiobook and really fell in love with the story.
Jackie is a city girl who gets the opportunity to spend the summer at her uncle's house while her dad and stepmother travel to Europe. Luckily her cousin Willa and her become close quickly and the memories began. One evening Willa disappeared without a trace. Jackie returned to her life always wondering what happened after that night.
Twenty years later, after her aunt passed away and left her the sprawling estate, Jackie returned for the first time since 1979. She has to work through her feelings, revisit memories, meet a few new people and find out what she truly wants with her life.
Thank you to Graydon House and NetGalley for this book for review.
4 out of 5 stars.
Jackie is a city girl who gets the opportunity to spend the summer at her uncle's house while her dad and stepmother travel to Europe. Luckily her cousin Willa and her become close quickly and the memories began. One evening Willa disappeared without a trace. Jackie returned to her life always wondering what happened after that night.
Twenty years later, after her aunt passed away and left her the sprawling estate, Jackie returned for the first time since 1979. She has to work through her feelings, revisit memories, meet a few new people and find out what she truly wants with her life.
Thank you to Graydon House and NetGalley for this book for review.
4 out of 5 stars.