There are some days I really just need a light, adorable book to read and 100 Days of Sunlight is definitely one of those reads. Abbie Emmons’s writing is delicate and lovely, a style that is easy to read and conveys an important message about appreciating life with a subtle, moving touch. Plus, the cover is so beautiful.

100 Days of Sunlight opens with Tessa Dickinson, who is temporarily blind after a car crash and has been told her sight will come back within 14 weeks. She is understandably struggling with living in darkness, especially as someone who spends a lot of her time writing poetry, and is afraid her sight won’t ever come back. When her grandparents decide to help by finding her a transcriber, Tessa is horrified. Unexpectedly, a boy she doesn’t know Weston Ludovica turns up at her house offering help. Tessa can’t see that he has a disability and he wants to keep it that way, because even though Tessa yells at him a lot, she makes him feel like a normal person. Weston just might be the one person that can help Tessa find light in the darkness again, but he might vanish from her life before she ever gets her sight back.

I wasn’t as gripped as I hoped I would be in the opening chapters of this book. It wasn’t really until we started learning more about Weston that I found myself invested in the characters and the plot. I felt as though there was something lacking in Tessa’s character. I would have liked a little more backstory on who she was before the accident, besides her blogging/poetry writing (which was an element of her character I really liked). Though I could completely understand Tessa’s negative outlooks at the beginning of the novel as she struggled with PTSD and being blind, I felt as though I got to know her most through Weston’s perspective. The more time Weston spent with Tessa, the more I felt I knew and liked her. There’s nothing particularly wrong with that, as the way her character was written and her lack of interaction with anyone but Weston and her grandparents depicted how isolated she felt. It just meant I didn’t develop a deeper connection with Tessa until halfway through the novel.

For the most part, Weston was the stronger character. The way Weston’s past was written had more depth and gave me a deeper understanding of his character even before he started spending more time with Tessa. I felt more for Weston’s personal struggles than Tessa’s, and perhaps that was the point. I loved knowing Weston’s brothers and his best friend Rudy, who all played integral roles in his story. I thought Weston’s character development was more established and understood what kind of person he was. The only things I was unsure about with Weston’s character were his motivations in seeking out Tessa and the medical history behind his disability. Both just felt to me like they needed a little more detail to back them up. But, because I enjoyed the book so much, those missing details don’t really bother me at all.

What is most definitely excellent about this book is the way it explores how important it is to value the life you have, to find happiness even in the smallest of things like the sound of a ukulele or the smell of lillies. Abbie Emmons’s writing was beautiful to read, and I really liked how her insights about looking on the bright side of life seamlessly flowed with the story and the character’s personal struggles. And of course, the relationship that develops between Tessa and Weston is absolutely adorable, their little moments made me smile so big.

While I wanted a little more substance from Tessa’s character and thought some details in the plot could have been hashed out a bit more, I really loved reading this book. It’s poetic and well-written, delving into the darkness in life and reminding us of all the sunlight we can find when we focus in all our senses and remember the things that are really important, the things that give us happiness. This book reminded me how lucky I am to be where I am in my life and that’s a really nice feeling to get from a book.

What a delightful surprise this book was and I am so grateful that I was able to read an arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. In the past two days I have read this beautiful YA novel by Abbie Emmons and begun to follow her website and view some of her posted videos. As expected, she is full of joy for writing and I feel that it shows within her first novel. 100 Days of Sunlight is a book that works for both middle grade and high school students. As the mom of a middle grade reader, I will definitely purchase a copy of this (when it is available in book form) for my 12 year old to read. As a high school English teacher, I also feel that this will be a great addition to our school library due to the content and the powerful message of hope and resilience. Emmons debut is the story of two teens, Tessa Dickenson and Weston Ludovico, one who is temporarily blind and one who has lost his legs below the knees and has prosthetic legs. Told in a alternating points of view, time and in sections based on the human senses, this is a beautiful story with the theme of hope and perseverance in the face of challenges. It also deals with the idea of fitting in and feeling whole, with a side of romance, the love of family and friends and a hint of faith. Emmons incorporates poetry within the story and it complements her smooth writing style. Her style isn't super complex, which I think helps the reader to quickly find themselves interested in these two teenagers and their situations. I haven't read many (any?) books about teenagers who are facing the challenge of learning how to navigate the world with prosthetic legs and through the character of Weston, Emmons does a really nice job of giving the reader an idea of what that may be like. I really love the way she created Weston as a male character with a strong voice. The balance between these two characters is what makes this such a magical read that left me feeling a lot of different feels. I look forward to the book version being released so that I can add this to my book shelf!

This book is amazing! Everything about it! Seriously, I cannot recommend this enough. It was so sweet and full of perfect moments.

I was laughing a lot. In the middle of class. In the dentist office. Late at night. (Shh, don't tell)

I was living the life of the characters. Not literally, but it sure felt like it. I didn't want to go back into the Real World. The characters are sticking with me and calling me back into the story.

Weston offered a unique viewpoint in YA fiction that I don't often see. He had overcome his obstacles, through much work. He was a bright ray of sunlight in a dark world, intent on sharing his perspective with others.

Tessa. . .She was going through a lot and her whole personality just drew me in. Her reactions to everything that she experienced seemed very realistic.

I rarely actually root for two people to become a couple in YA fiction, but this book was different. They both taught each other and encouraged the other to become a better person.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Thank you, Abbie Emmons, for giving me a book hangover. Also, I need more books.


Rating: 5 Stars

Content: 1 Star (63 uses of language)

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons is a rare gem of a book, from the gorgeous cover, all the way through to the final page. I was completely charmed by the story of Tessa and Weston, and loved bearing witness to their beautiful journey.

When sixteen year old Tessa Dickinson is involved in a car accident, she suffers a cerebral contusion which causes her to go blind, but doctors believe that the situation is temporary and predict that it will take up to fourteen weeks for her sight to be restored. Tessa is a poetry blogger and is frustrated by her inability to continue with her writing. When her grandparents place an ad in the local paper hoping to find an assistant for Tessa, the notice is intercepted by Weston Ludovico, who has a unique understanding of what Tessa is going though as he himself is a double amputee. Convincing her grandparents to let him take the job, and on the condition that they do not tell Tessa about his prosthetic legs, Weston aims to bring Tessa to the realization that 'visual beauty is only one form of beauty.' Life is, in fact, a feast for all of the senses.

This is an emotional, heart-rending read that will trigger all of the feels, and will have you falling in love with Tessa and Weston. Beautifully written and stunningly profound, I devoured every insightful word of this story. I highly recommend treating yourself to this lovely book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Abbie Emmons for the opportunity to experience 100 Days of Sunlight.