Reviews

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The book begins in 2019 with the funeral for BettyKay Beecher, a mother of two and former nurse. Her daughters, Clara and Abbie are naturally struggling with their mom’s death, and it turns out they are struggling with their own relationship, too. One particular guest arrives for the funeral, Hollywood screen legend Kitty Devereaux, and everyone wonders why. Kitty tells the girls that BettyKy was her oldest and closest friend from nursing school back in the 1960’s; Abbie and Clara realize there was a lot they didn’t know about their mother.

In Greensboro, Iowa in 1967, BettyKay, Jenny and Kitty begin nursing school. The three young women are very different from one another, but they create a bond through school and become The Sunshine Girls. The adventures of the women are what take up the bulk of the book. They find themselves in many situations that strengthen the ties among each other, and the bond lasts for more than fifty years.

Through Kitty’s visit the weekend of the funeral, Clara and Abbie learn more about their mother and are surprised by her eventful history, which belied the persona they knew. It was interesting to set the book during the Vietnam War and not World War II as so much historical fiction is set these days. With the 1960’s setting, you get a lot more of the chaos and dissention and differences between parents and their children, as well as young adults and each other.

This book is so well-written. The characters are well developed, and the settings are made vivid with descriptions that bring the reader back to the Vietnam era. Kitty was destined to never finish nursing school, that was just her way out of her southern upbringing. However, BettyKay and Jenny both successfully finish the difficult nursing school and end up having successful nursing careers and families. Kitty’s dreams are realized when she becomes a success in Hollywood. When Kitty, in 2019, reveals a secret of hers and BettyKay’s to the daughters, it’s an earth-shattering experience. They learn that they really didn’t know their mother that well at all.

I listened to this book on audio after an Audible.com book sale. I’m so glad I spent the couple of dollars on The Sunshine Girls. Andi Arndt is a great narrator and gave a great performance. There was no trouble discerning who was speaking once the characters were established. I’m not sure if I’ve listened to too many books narrated by Arndt, but I’ll definitely be looking for more.