BUY LINK: KINDLE
The Hard Truth About Sunshine by Sawyer BennettMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Reviewed by: Michelle
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
The Hard Truth About Sunshine is a raw honest portrayal of the many facets of life, happiness, sadness, second chances, vulnerability and demons. In this gripping poignant and visceral tale, Sawyer Bennett consumes you with the hard truths of her words, characters, emotions and life.
With faith, you should have no fear of what happens after.”Sawyer introduces readers to four characters. Four strangers who are battling their own struggles, emotions, and demons. Connor is seventeen years old and is terminally ill. He only has a few months to live. Barb is a victim of sexual abuse. She is closed off emotionally and is battling with her own demons and thoughts of suicide. Christopher is angry at the world for making him half the man after a tragic IED explosion left him missing a leg and part of his hands. Jillian is trying to stay positive and optimistic even though she will slowly go blind and have a chance of heart failure. These four strangers are brought together by a community group therapy session but what happens when they are coerced to go on a bonding trip that soon turns into a bucket list of adventures?
Told in Christopher’s POV, readers are consumed with the raw emotions of what it is like to see, feel, and hear the hard truths of these four individuals. Too often we don’t stop, see and appreciate the simple things. The sun, the air, the flowers, the moon, the smell of fresh cut grass and most importantly the life we are given. And as we get to know each of them, facets of their personalities are stripped and laid bare for readers to see. Every flaw are exposed. Their sadness, their regrets, their joys, their ups and downs, their guilt, their anger, and their loss of hope.
I love when the sun comes out after a dark rain,” Jillian murmurs, her eyes still closed. “How it just brightens everything.”This bucket list trip adventure that they embarked on is truly an emotional journey of growth, truth, understanding, and second chances. Connor can’t change the fact that he is dying. He accepted it but he has every right to be afraid. As for Barb and Christopher, their journey is what stands out the most. Your heart will ache for them as they battle their demons,emotions, and fears. And as for Jillian, she is the ray of sunshine. She is far from perfect but her positivity is what gravitated me towards this book. She and Connor kept this group grounded. She allowed them to feel and embrace the light, the warmth, and the hope.
While I understand this book is not everyone’s cup of tea, I applaud Sawyer Bennett for writing a tale that spoke volumes. This book allowed us to take a closer look on our life. Our hard truths. And the truth of the matter, life and death is one scary reality. No one wants to admit their fears and tell aloud their problems because we don’t want to burden others with our own struggles. But in truth, each and everyone of us have pieces and moments in our life that can relate to Barb, Connor, Jillian and Christopher. Though this book centers mostly on Christopher and his relationship with Jillian, I found the story of Connor and Barb to be the most honest, touching and gripping story of all. Bennett did a remarkable job as she executed a story that was written so flawlessly and touching. She may have broke our hearts but slowly she was able to piece back the broken fragments and make our hearts whole once again.
All I can say is go read this book. Feel the sunshine. Feel the friendship. Feel the loss. Feel the love. And most importantly feel the hard truth. Embrace the truth and sunshine. Welcome the reality that light will permeate through the darkness.
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