Hello, Sunshine

3 stars bumped up to 4 because I found myself thinking about the book several days after I finished it, especially when I was thinking of posting something on social media. In exploring what happens when Sunshine's life spectacularly implodes with a few tweets revealing the lies she built her career upon, Laura Dave makes us think about how we “curate” our online selves and the impact that has on our ability to be genuine.

In less than 250 pages, Dave creates interesting, very flawed characters and the relationships between them. The tension between Sunshine and her sister Rain (!) is perfectly portrayed, with years of tension and distance dating not easily overcome. This isn't the heartwarming two sisters reunion of a Lifetime TV movie, but it rings true.

Without revealing any plot spoilers I will say that the story is more bittersweet than Dave's most recent release, Eight Hundred Grapes, so those looking for a happy ending tied up in a bow may be disappointed. Sunshine learns from her mistakes and her future will look very different, but other than a direction, a lot is left unresolved and uncertain, including several key relationships.