Title: The Hard Truth About Sunshine
Series: Stand-alone
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Release Date: March 28, 2017
Christine’s Review
OMG, It has taken me at least a week and half to process everything that happens in this book. I have traveled through the whole range of emotions. I feel like I went on this Journey with Christopher, Jillian, Barb and Connor. And some of the moments were tough and some were uplifting. I feel that 5 hearts is not enough to give this book. Saywer Bennett made me think about the people in my own life.
I love the fact that everything is taken from Christopher’s perspective. He has a unique view because he is so emotionally detached because of circumstances. I really hate his family and if I was him then I could never speak to them again. As he enters into this new situation with being in group thearpy, his defenses go up because he doesn’t want to feel anything. I think he could tell there was something special about this group.
Jillian offered a different perspective than the rest of the group. I loved that she was so giving. Christopher has to process this and he is trying to figure her out. I really think that she was what he needed at this time in his life.
Connor and Barb were two characters that I wanted to take of and protect. They were special. Connor the strong one and Barb the vulnerable one. The both had a profound effect on me.
This story was really special and at end of the journey it leaves you with the thought that you have no idea what another person has gone through but to understand that everyone’s journey is unique. And everytone has to find their own way to finding their own peace.
My Rating: 
Lulu’s Review
I am officially in a book coma. I am sad but uplifted, reflective but hopeful, alone but not lonely. This is a hard journey but I am full of sunshine. I have the warmth of an amazing story that has just given me hope, happiness and peace for four amazing characters.
I choose to live. I choose to love. I choose to forge my path. Life is my choice.
Christopher, Barb, Jillian and Connor are four characters that will stay with me forever. Upon finishing this story I was speechless as my faith and hope was tested many times. These guys were the fearsome foursome, at times throughout this book they all had their moments of sadness but then also happiness, despair but determination, I cannot remember a book that upon the first chapter I was so investsed.
As a reader you know there will not be a happy ever after for all these characters however in saying that upon finishing I think the characters all in some way found their own place of peace, the pain and dullness was put to rest.
Jillian is the sunshine and I connected to her immediately with her compassion and determination, she had a backbone and she pushed the other three characters. She was my standout and I immediately wanted her to fall in love with Christopher.
‘Jillian, you were my bucket list and I didn’t even know it’
Barb grew on my slowly until the point when I knew her moment of choice was to be made and I am surprised in my lack of judgement for her. Barb’s chapter after the beach and the way her story was told all through well I laughed, was angry and then I felt peace for her to find her light amongst her grey. I felt the author respected Barb, her past story and her present and I laughed with Barb when pissing on the grave and my smile shined bright for Connor’s parents and what they did for her at the end of the book.
Connor and Christopher were like older and younger brother, the journey they take for Connor to see the sun set on the west coast was so enjoyable.
Jillian and Christopher’s relationship I loved and the gentle way their physical connection changed over the course of the story.
Lastly onto Christopher, told from his POV, he held me captive and to see his whole perception on life, love, happiness and forgiveness evolve over the story largely due to his three different travelling companions was just thought provoking. It took me hours to put into perspective this whole story, it will have you question your own thoughts on life and death and finding your peace in life.
The Hard Truth About Sunshine will be one of those books I will always remember.
Vicki’s Review
I don’t even know where to start with this review, mainly because I just don’t think I have the words that will do this book justice.
When I first received the ARC request for THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT SUNSHINE, I spent several days wavering between signing up for it because it’s a Sawyer Bennett book, and not signing up for it because it sounded too intense for my tastes. I finally decided to request an ARC, but when it was time for me to read it, I hesitated again. I still wasn’t sure if it was right for me and I’ll admit I regretted signing up for it. But then I started reading it and I have never been happier to prove myself wrong.
I won’t sugar coat it, Christopher starts out as an absolute arsehole. He’s so bogged down hating his own life and being angry at the world over his disfigurement, that he doesn’t care about anyone else’s problems. After being abandoned by his family and girlfriend while recovering from his injuries, he’s bitter and unwilling to let anyone else in. But after just a few days into a road trip with the three members of his therapy group, he starts to open up and let them in, and he grows up a lot in a short amount of time because of it.
THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT SUNSHINE is told only in Christopher’s POV, so it’s his story you learn the most about. But while Christopher is the focus, Jillian, Connor and Barb play big roles from beginning to end. Their personal stories will break your heart at the unfairness of it all, and all three will grab your heart in their own ways. This is a stand-alone and despite the devastating topics woven throughout, it does come with a HEA, one that is both sad and beautiful. It was a perfect end to an emotional story.
THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT SUNSHINE is beyond amazing. It is real, deeply emotional and it will break your heart before putting it back together again. I smiled a little. I laughed a little. I cried a lot. I think I will be hard pressed to find another book that will affect me as deeply as this one did for a very long time.
