The Sunshine Sisters
Books | Fiction / Literary
3.9
(52)
Jane Green
The New York Times bestselling author of Falling presents a warm, wise, and wonderfully vivid novel about a mother who asks her three estranged daughters to come home to help her end her life. Ronni Sunshine left London for Hollywood to become a beautiful, charismatic star of the silver screen. But at home, she was a narcissistic, disinterested mother who alienated her three daughters. As soon as possible, tomboy Nell fled her mother's overbearing presence to work on a farm and find her own way in the world as a single mother. The target of her mother's criticism, Meredith never felt good enough, thin enough, pretty enough. Her life took her to London--and into the arms of a man whom she may not even love. And Lizzy, the youngest, more like Ronni than any of them, seemed to have it easy, using her drive and ambition to build a culinary career to rival her mother's fame, while her marriage crumbled around her. But now the Sunshine sisters are together again, called home by Ronni, who has learned that she has a serious disease and needs her daughters to fulfill her final wishes. And though Nell, Meredith, and Lizzy have never been close, their mother's illness draws them together to confront the old jealousies and secret fears that have threatened to tear these sisters apart. As they face the loss of their mother, they will discover if blood might be thicker than water after all...
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More Details:
Author
Jane Green
Pages
371
Publisher
Penguin
Published Date
2017
ISBN
0399583319 9780399583315
Community ReviewsSee all
"I really like this author "
W J
Wanda Johnston
"I enjoyed this book. While it isn't something I'd usually read -- there are rom-comish elements to it -- it was an easy read. Green's characters are relatable (I related to Nell quite a bit) and the book is good at taking you from setting to setting.<br/><br/>One thing I didn't like about this book was the overload of exposition. With each instance of a time jump, there was exposition about the sisters' lifestyles, partners, jobs, etc. It grew repetitive. I understand the need for it but I do wish there was more showing instead of telling.<br/><br/>I thought some of the details about Westport were unnecessary, like the names of restaurants and shops we never visit. I did like the Westport setting, and I understand that the name-dropping was done to show how the characters were familiar with the setting, but I just found it confusing and transparent.<br/><br/>Nothing in this book surprised me. I don't think that anything about it was supposed to be surprising. Nell's turn-around ... I could see it coming from a mile away. If the events of the book weren't supposed to be surprising, then that's fine, but if they were, I think that's somewhere where the book failed.<br/><br/>The thing I disliked most about this book was the way that Ronni wrapped up her relationship with the sisters. I didn't find her attitude to be believable, nor did I find the shift in the sisters' attitudes to be realistic. I'll admit, I don't know much about how death links people, brings people back to a path they'd once strayed. But I just found it to be underwhelming, unrealistic. <br/><br/>Overall I'd recommend <u>The Sunshine Sisters</u> as a summer read, if someone is into these kind of books. I haven't read much this year, but it's probably the second-best book I've picked up."
"Easy, fast read. I did find it very predictable and the characters were stereotyped but I enjoyed it as a light summer beach read."
J C
Jennifer Cohen
"http://www.anurseandabook.com/2017/06/the-sunshine-sisters-by-jane-green.html<br/>Light summer read, but totally predictable. I'm a huge Jane Green fan and I always look forward to her books. <br/><br/>Ronni has been a medium level star who has always treated her family like an annoyance, and as a result, now has very limited relationships with all three of her daughters. Having to fight for their mother's attention has led to all three girls having competitive relationships with each other - when there's not enough love to go around, children will fight for the scraps.<br/><br/>But now, Ronni has discovered she has a fatal disease and wants to make amends with her daughters and help them repair their relationships with each other (nurse alert: this doesn't usually happen, if your a narcissist all your life, you don't usually change in the face of death, you might actually become more self-absorbed). <br/><br/>Nell is running a farm, living on her own after her son left for college. Meri is living in London with a man she doesn't want to marry, but doesn't think she has any other options, and Lizzy is running supper clubs in the city, resenting her husband, ignoring her son, and carrying on an affair with her partner. <br/><br/>The girls are beckoned home by their mother and given the news that she wants them to help her commit suicide. The girls are understandably shocked and resistant to this idea, they haven't even had time to adjust to the news of their mothers illness before they are asked to help her die.<br/><br/>Since this is a Jane Green book, all the answers to your romantic problems are delivered to your door. These books have ruined my chances at remarriage, since I now believe my true love will show up at my door to build me bookshelves. <br/><br/>This is the third book I have read this year that has introduced a lesbian character as a woman who has gone her whole life without ever realizing that she is attracted to women. I've never known a lesbian who didn't realize who she was attracted to until middle age - or that just fell in love with a woman and came out in the matter of two days. I'm all for including all love in the mainstream, but I wish we were making it a little more believable. How about one sister is gay, has always been gay, and is looking for her true love, just like the straight sister? <br/><br/>Anyway, everyone has their loving encounter with their mother that heals all emotional wounds, except for Lizzy, the one spoiled all of her life. Everyone finds love, except for Lizzy. Hmmm....Lizzy does end up with the short end of the stick frequently in this book.<br/><br/>If you are looking for a light beach read, look no further. This is a relaxing way to pass an afternoon and as light as it gets."
M F
Marcee Feddersen