LADY SUNSHINE by Amy Mason Doan

 

“A delicious daydream of a book.” —Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author of 28 Summers

“With lyrical writing and a page-turning plot, this sun-dappled book has it all: heart, smarts, and an irresistible musical beat.” —Karen Dukess, author of The Last Book Party

ONE ICONIC FAMILY. ONE SUMMER OF SECRETS. THE DAZZLING SPIRIT OF 1970S CALIFORNIA.

For Jackie Pierce, everything changed the summer of 1979, when she spent three months of infinite freedom at her bohemian uncle’s sprawling estate on the California coast. As musicians, artists, and free spirits gathered at The Sandcastle for the season in pursuit of inspiration and communal living, Jackie and her cousin Willa fell into a fast friendship, testing their limits along the rocky beach and in the wild woods... until the summer abruptly ended in tragedy, and Willa silently slipped away into the night.

Twenty years later, Jackie unexpectedly inherits The Sandcastle and returns to the iconic estate for a short visit to ready it for sale. But she reluctantly extends her stay when she learns that, before her death, her estranged aunt had promised an up-and-coming producer he could record a tribute album to her late uncle at the property’s studio. As her musical guests bring the place to life again with their sun-drenched beach days and late-night bonfires, Jackie begins to notice startling parallels to that summer long ago. And when a piece of the past resurfaces and sparks new questions about Willa’s disappearance, Jackie must discover if the dark secret she’s kept ever since is even the truth at all.

MY THOUGHTS: 

This was my first Amy Mason Doan book. It definitely won't be my last.

This book is a light read compared to my usual books. It's a very well written and very interesting. From the start you get hooked and don't want to put it down. This book is told from Jackie's POV. She goes to spend the summer with her uncle when her dad and step mother go away for a vacation. From there her life is never the same again.

Jackie has the adventure of a lifetime at Sandcastle. Sandcastle is the name of the area that her uncle owns and it’s paradise. It has almost everything any teen would love. Except no tv's or phones. It's set in 1979 so no internet yet either. But it's a place where she can grow and learn how to live off the land. To be a part of a big family. Once her and her cousin Willa become friends they are unstoppable. Willa is a very outgoing young lady. They are complete opposites in every way. From their lifestyles to their music choices. Jackie's uncle, Graham is a musician who has not worked in a while. But this is the summer of comebacks for him. There are many people here at Sandcastle and they are all the typical hippies you knew or read about in the 70s. There are some things going on that were not so great. But that happens when you have so many people in one place.

Things are not all fun and games though. There are a lot of serious issues going on in this book. While I fully disliked Uncle Graham he was fun. He could be brutal too though. I just did not like him much. I loved Willa's mother, Angela. She was like a typical earth mother who wanted to take care of the earth and the people involved with their land. She loved her daughter and niece and tried to make both of them feel at peace with the life there.

You will feel like you are there. The waterfall and the sea feel so realistic the way they are described. The way you see Willa surfing and trying to teach Jackie to surf. The deep woods. The treehouse. All of it feels like pure beauty. When tragedy hits things come to a halt though. Willa disappears and Jackie has to return to her father and stepmother. Twenty years go by and Jackie goes back to sell Sandcastle. It was left to her after her Aunt Angela dies. She decides to sell and donate all the money. But there is more to be done here. Secrets will come out. So much is going on but it's so easy to follow.

This book jumps from 1979 to 1999. It's the story of two teens who became best friends one summer. Of the tragedy that happened. Of the secrets that came out. This story will keep you wanting more. You will keep turning the pages to see what comes next. It's not a thriller. It's not a historical fiction. It's a happy/sad story. It's a light read. It's just a good book in every sense of the word. I'm very happy I chose this book to read.

Thank you #NetGalley, #amymasondoan, #harlequin for this ARC. This is my own true feelings about this book.

5/5 stars and a high recommendation. I will be looking forward to more by this author.