“I’d been wrong about the ways we move past the versions of ourselves that no longer fit. I’d thought it involved running, as far and as fast as your feet could carry you, from your former selves. I didn’t understand that was the surest way to wind up exactly where you started.”
Sunshine Mackenzie has it all as a cooking video sensation with millions of fans, a line of cookbooks and the soon to be star of an upcoming show on the Food Network. People fall in love with her down-to-earth persona and story of humble beginnings that led her to a new life in New York with her devoted husband. Yep, Sunshine is living the ideal life. Until she gets hacked. With her secrets revealed to the world, Sunshine loses her show, her fans, her apartment, and her husband all in one fell swoop. And where else can a person go when they lose everything, but straight back to the beginning. Back in the childhood home that she had left firmly in the past, Sunshine is forced to rethink her reality and what kind of life she wants to lead.
Hello, Sunshine is a breezy, charming read that I enjoyed quite a bit. It gave me those wonderful summer reading vibes providing a lovely escape. I loved the way Sunshine tells her story and the way the book is narrated. She does not paint herself as a victim or a hero, just someone finding her place and making mistakes along the way. The twist in the story is an interesting choice that you may or may not see coming. I wasn’t particularly surprised but I do wish it was addressed more clearly because aspects of it felt really problematic. I do appreciate that the story did not go the typical route and overall had a more realistic feel — examining the price and consequences of opening ones life to social media and the many dangers of living a “curated” life.
This was a pleasant, enjoyable novel and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
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