I can't remember when I've enjoyed a book this much. Lady Sunshine is a wonderfully addictive story about two cousins who spend one magical summer together in an unusual artist retreat called "The Sandcastle."

Many years later, one of the cousins inherits the place and all of its magic and secrets.

I was along for the ride immediately and enjoyed the scenery and likable, though flawed, characters, and would have read it for the writing alone, but the ending had a payoff I did not see coming.

I highly recommend Lady Sunshine.

Thank you to the publisher and NG for an advance e-galley in exchange for my honest/unpaid review.

In 1979 seventeen-years old Jackie spent three summer months at her uncle's estate in Nothern California. Three carefree months, filled with music, bonfire parties, and new friendships, that ended abruptly in a tragedy. Twenty years later, she returns to the sprawling estate, The Sandcastle, after her aunt's death, who left the house to Jackie. By returning to the house, Jackie will have to face the ghosts of her past and confront her role in the tragedy.

Lady Sunshine is a dual timeline book. I liked the premise of the book, but I didn't love the time jumps. I wasn't invested in the characters or what was happening to them. I liked reading about the present timeline more than the past timeline. Lady Sunshine is a slow-burn family drama and a coming-of-age story that I can see other people enjoying, but it was a bit of a miss for me.

I loved this book. It’s such a great story with summer vibes but definitely not the fluffy rom-com stuff most think of when discussing summer books. This is a coming of age story with dual timelines, tons of character development and a setting so full of life it almost becomes another character. I could visualize the cabins surrounding the property, the campfire nights, the trails. I loved the bohemian lifestyle where anything goes but most of all I loved the relationships established there. Highly recommend!

One of my favorite books of 2020 was Amy Mason Doan’s Summer Hours, so when I was approved for an early copy of Lady Sunshine on Netgalley, I was thrilled. This was the third book I’ve read by Doan, and while it didn’t quite reach the heights Summer Hours brought me to, I was happy to settle into this story about friendship, secrets, and the price of fame amid the backdrop of the musical 1970s.

It’s very much a coming-of-age story, and while some of the events were predictable (and maybe even unbelievable), I still found myself often surprised. And completely nostalgic for my childhood, when life seemed to have a slower pace—set to the harmonic sounds of Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young.

Each of the books I’ve read by Doan has a life-changing friendship at its core—with some romance and a mystery on the side. And the fast friendship one summer in 1979 between Jackie and her cousin Willa alters their lives forever. Everyone deserves at least one friendship in their lives like Jackie and Willa’s, and I enjoyed their adventures and the sweet relationship they shared.

Lady Sunshine is a summer read, written poetically with some depth, heart, and a lot of music. In fact, I recommend you read it while listening to Doan’s playlist—included at the back of the book. (Doan is also one of my favorite authors to follow on Instagram—I’ve won two of her giveaways!) The story has a sultry, hazy, summery feel, perfect for reading beside the pool or while on vacation. The steady pace of the story unraveling kept me turning pages, and I adored the romance, the camp-like setting, and the beautiful seaside location. I can’t wait to pick up Doan’s next novel!

Know that this meanders back and forth between 1979 and 1999 but that every time I thought I'd grown weary with it, I was sucked back in. And there's a heck of a twist at the end. Jackie has just inherited a large California estate from her aunt and she's determined to unpack the houses on the property and sell it. She spent a single summer there as a teen but had never been back. Why? Well, there's a good reason related to her uncle, a famous musician, dead since that summer. Now, in the present, Shane has pressed her to allow another artist to use the property to make an album of her uncle's songs. He knows something about that summer too. What happened? This is the story of that summer and of her cousin Willa, now also gone. I admit that I had trouble visualizing the property with all the little houses and the swing over the ocean. There's also a fairly large cast of characters in both time periods. No spoilers. Thanks to the publisher the ARC. This is an interesting if at times frustrating read.

Lady Sunshine is a story of a coming of age, musicians, family ties and secrets. We see between the years of 1979 and 1999 at Jackie's Uncle Graham's house Sandcastle.

In '79, Jackie is there to visit her uncle for the summer. From bonding with her cousin, Willa, to bonfire nights where people perform and bask in Graham's glow.

In '99, Jackie has been gifted Sandcastle. Being back brings up happy and painful memories, painful where her cousin Willa is concerned. Her cousin left that summer 20 years ago and has been dead for a few years.

This is so powerful and lyrical in description. My heart broke at the end in a few different ways and was mended up in some more. Great summer read (which I don't need to be all fluffy and fun.. Serious ones are good too)

A sweet history of friendship between two cousins.

The writing in this book transports you to Sandcastle - a place that almost should only exist in a fairy tale. This almost cautionary tale looks at growing up and growing apart - only to come back to the heart of truth.

Thanks to netGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book.

LADY SUNSHINE by Amy Mason Doan is a new women’s fiction story that has two intertwining timelines, the first is of an idyllic summer in 1979 when two young cousins come together and the second is 1999, as one cousin faces truths and discovers secrets from that free-spirited summer.

This new-to-me author hooked me immediately with vivid characters and nostalgia that takes a very unexpected turn not once, but twice during this captivating story. The Sandcastle is the setting for both timelines on the California coast and is the compound of Jackie Pierce’s uncle. The 1979 timeline brings back memories from that time period and compares the two cousins very different lives which at first are pure and simple, but they have underlying secrets that tear them apart. The 1999 timeline brings Jackie back to the compound that she has inherited and she now has to face truths from the past that she has been hiding away from in her small life in Boston.

This book has so many different layered facets that come together into a compelling story that has friendship, family, secrets, and forgiveness. This new-to-me author had me completely wrapped up in both timelines with surprising plotlines and realistic characters.

I highly recommend this hard to categorize, yet beautifully written story.

Amy Mason Doan is an American best-selling author of books such as "Summer Hours" and 'The Summer List". This new book is an historical fiction set in both 1979 and 1999. We meet Jackie as a 17-year-old girl spending the summer at her uncle's compound. Her uncle had been a successful folk singer and now musicians and their families come and go, staying in the cabins or tents and trailers and use the recording studio there. Jackie and her cousin Willa become close friends. In 1999 we meet Jackie again. She has inherited the compound and her uncle's music, now that her aunt, uncle and cousin are dead. While at the compound getting it ready for sale, she relives that pivotal summer in her life. This is a wonderful read and a good recommendation for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid or anyone who likes a good story. I really enjoyed it.

Jackie Pierce was looking for an escape when she went to her uncle’s house in 1979. The Sandcastle and her musician uncle represented everything her current life wasn’t- freeing, inspiring and creative. A fish out of water, she initially struggles, but so desperately wants to fit into this new world- and to be noticed by her mysteriously beautiful cousin, Willa.

At first Willa remains just out of reach. Jackie is convinced Willa thinks she’s the epitome of uncool, until an explained misunderstanding puts them on a new path of friendship. Suddenly the summer turns into everything Jackie hoped it would be, until summer’s end, when everything changes.

Fast forward twenty years where Jackie finds out she’s inherited her uncle’s property.
She returns to the land, and its painful memories, in order to prep it for sale. But Jackie’s plans are slightly derailed. She learns her deceased aunt promised a young producer he could use the space to record a tribute album to her legendary uncle. Forced to stick things out longer than expected, Jackie has to face her unresolved feelings towards that summer and its secrets. But even Jackie herself doesn’t know the whole truth of what happened all those years ago.

Lady Sunshine was a genre bending read. On one hand, it’s straight forward historical fiction. But it’s also a coming of age story, as well as a part time mystery. I found myself wanting a bit more out of the musical aspect of this book as this is what drew me to the title to begin with. The wrap up made the journey worthwhile though.

LADY SUNSHINE is told in two different time lines. Hang on to your seats, it’s a crazy rollercoaster ride! At first, the story is fun and light. Then it takes a turn and gets emotional and deals with many different heart tugging situations. The Sandcastle and the people who live there will stay with me for a long time. Jackie never dreamed she would be returning to The Sandcastle after her stay there twenty years ago. The house and the land are left to Jackie and she must go back to get the house ready to be sold. She was planning A quick trip In and out, but that changes very quickly!

I have never read Amy Mason Doan before but after reading LADY SUNSHINE I know I will be reading everything by her that I can get my hands on. She hooked me from the very first page. I found myself totally absorbed in this story and I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters within this heart tugging story. I found all of the characters very real and relatable and it was interesting to read how they are all dealing with their troubles in very different ways and it takes a whole lot of soul searching to help them.

LADY SUNSHINE has it all, adventure, heartbreak, great dialogue, and awesome characters. Once I started reading, it was very hard to stop! I have made it a quest to catch up on the rest of Amy’s books because her writing is just that good. She makes her readers feel every emotion her characters are feeling to the point where you feel as if you are right there, sitting along with them. My emotions were on a wild roller coaster ride from the first page all the way until the very end. At first I really tried to read it slowly and make it last, but soon I was so caught up in everyone’s lives and business, I was flipping the pages like a mad woman.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was written so beautifully. I could picture everything perfectly in my head. This book is perfect for fans of "Daisy Jones & The Six"!

I wish I enjoyed this more, but I was just not connecting well with the story. I do not think that I am the target audience for this book.

I think a lot of people will really love this one. The author has a very flowy sense of style and manages to make the setting come alive without giving it too much structure. Jackie is a good lead as she is a little bit apart from it all. While she does love music she was never in the music industry and in both timelines is a bit of an outsider looking in. She's likable and relatable even if a bit conflicted at times. Her memories of the summer of 1979 are touched with gold with hidden darkness. She can't resist remembering but at the same time her reflexive action is to retreat.

I enjoyed both timelines and it was interesting how the property can't help but draw musicians. In both Jackie is trying to figure things out. In the 1979 she is desperate to fit in and learn more about her mother and in the 1999 she is still stunned that she ended up with the estate and is trying to race her demons and figure out what she wants. My only real issue and what kept me from really loving it was the "secret" premise. I love a book where past secrets are discovered but I get impatient when there is no progress to discovering what the secret is - especially if the main characters know it or at least have a pretty good idea. This is one of those books. Part of what keeps the secret under wraps for so long is Jackie's own fears about facing what happened or discovering more which made it better but it still kept me from being too hooked. This was a good read and this is an author that I will definitely seek out in the future

Dancing on the cusp of historical fiction, this book has two timelines. One takes place in 1979 as Jackie's uncle is dealing with the feeling of a career that is over as his last album wasn't as successful as he believed it should be. The other storyline is 1999 and Jackie's aunt has passed away and has left the estate to her to do with it what she pleases and she returns after a twenty year absence and relives that fateful summer that spent her life spinning.

First, I always love a dual timeline book where the reader gets to experience two moments in time. I appreciate when the reader knows early on the connection between the two timelines, but the mystery is within one timeline or another! In this case, Jackie in 1999 is visiting these places that meant so much and dealing with some emotions that she clearly tucked away for a long time.

Both the characters and the setting were so vivid in this story. I could picture the free spirited folks of 1979 and I could feel the lives they were trying to live that was rubbing against the norm. The estate itself and the land and its characteristics was a character all of its own. From the free swing to the waterfall, I loved every moment where a character described the different spots on this land and it made me want to travel to California to see if I could find it!

I only have one backlist book by Amy Mason Doan that I need to read and with summer in the title, I may just have to pick it up this summer and complete her novels.

Compelling drama, love of music and literary license all complement one another in this touching story that will stay with me for a long while. Two cousins, together for the first time one summer in 1979 soon become inseperable. Willow's father is a musician and Jackie is spending the summer with their family. Something changed all of that.

It is now twenty years later and Jackie has inherited her uncle's secluded estate in California, called The Sandcastle. It is her intent to pack it up and sell it. That idyllic summer Jackie enjoyed was met with tragedy and she now hopes to deal with this situation as soon as possible. However, her aunt had one request before she recently died. Shane is a music producer who Jackie's aunt instructed to make a tribute album of Jackie's uncle's music.

Jackie just wants to get back home to Boston, her boyfriend and her students. However, her stay becomes extended as events of the past begin to collide with what is going on in 1999. The story shifts and is partly narrated during that long ago summer and readers are treated to the wonderful and freeing relationship the girls had, and slowly, it is revealed as to what split them apart.

Lady Sunshine started off a bit slow for me. However, I soon became engrossed in the story as there were multiple layers as well as sentimentality when it came to the lifestyle and music back in the 70s. As I was a 60s baby, I really was not swept up in the scene and music that was portrayed in this story. However, it was told so well that I felt like I was there - whether it was during the time the two girls were close, or decades later with the various musicians contributing to the album, or seeing how and why Jackie's life changed back then and, more significantly, how it began to change even more after her return to California.

There was an ethereal vibe to this story which culminated in a surprising and satisfyiing conclusion. Please note the acknowledgements and story behind Lady Sunshine at the back of the book. More about 70s music is noted as well as a Spotify playlist I am eager to listen to.

Many thanks to Gradyon House and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I was swept up into this book of vivid colors. The author brought to life a world of music, art, and summer of magic.

A story of family, friendship, secrets, and forgiveness the author took me on an emotional ride through two decades of time.

When Jackie goes to spend a summer with her uncle she and her cousin Willa become fast friends. The summer is one that brings joy, family, and secrets colliding together.

Years later Jackie returns to the place she spent one magical summer that ended in tragedy. Through honoring the last request from her aunt Jackie begins to uncover the at and sees that magical summer as more than it was.

The author truly had me turning the pages to find to what happened. She breathed life into these characters and with a stroke of a pen brought to life so many colors and vivid imagery. Truly a spellbinding book to read.

What is on the soundtrack for your summer? After picking up this new release from Amy Mason Doan, it may include an eclectic mix of folk, pop, and disco. There is even a playlist on Spotify all ready to go. For me, this book joins Mary Jane and Daisy Jones & The Six for a hat trick. A trinity of music-themed reads that will transport you back to the 70's. This book has dual timelines 20 years apart. In 1979, Jacqueline Pierce is given the nickname Lady Sunshine by her has-been,folk-singer uncle Graham. That summer at his compound will be pivotal and tragic. Twenty years later Jackie returns to settle the estate and put it up for sale. Graham, his wife, Angela, and daughter Willa are all gone. When a music producer asks Jackie to delay the sale while they record a tribute album in the basement studio. Trust me, you will love spending part of your summer with Lady Sunshine. The cover does not lie. Includes a list of insightful book group questions. Make this a buddy or group read and share the experience.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Every once in awhile, you come across an author who's a true storyteller. This book was absolute magic! After her father remarries, Jackie spends what starts out as a picture perfect summer at her folk singer uncles estate called The Sandcastle. Being an only child, meeting her cousin Willa gives Jackie the sister she's always longed for. But when a plan goes awry, one night changes the lives of everyone at The Sandcastle.

Told in alternating years of 1979 and 1999, this book truly captures how it must have felt to live in California during the huge folk movement. Due to Doan's magical ability to spin words into vivid pictures, simple things such as a tree house become a shabby chic castle and a waterfall in the woods becomes a striking wooded wonderland. Along with vivid imagery, this book truly captures the relationships between best friends, relationships between spouses, and the reality that sometimes our heroes aren't at all who we think they are.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Easily one of my favorite summer reads of 2021, this book deserves five stars and then some. You'll lose yourself in the summer of 79, and feel a loss when the book is over. Novels like this don't come around very often and this is a definite one that no one should miss.

Thank you to Amy Mason Doan, NetGalley, and Harlequin Graydon House publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Twenty years ago in 1979, 17 year old Jackie spent a magical, memorable summer at the home of her Uncle Graham, a famous folk singer. There, she formed an unbreakable bond with her cousin, Willa, as they freely roamed the grounds, hiking, surfing, daydreaming, and interacting with Graham's eclectic group of friends.

"Here was everything I craved—family, warmth, noise, freedom."

Now, at age 37, Jackie has inherited the estate after the recent death of her aunt, Angela. There to pack the belongings so she can sell the property, she's instead distracted by Shane who talked her into allowing him to produce a 30th anniversary tribute album to her uncle in the estate's studio. As his friends and coworkers settle in, Jackie is overcome by nostalgia for that one long ago, yet unforgettable, summer. But, was everything as idyllic as it seemed?

"This is the story of a girl, her cousin, and a waterfall..."

Lady Sunshine was engrossing, atmospheric, and surprising, so you'll definitely want to grab it for your beach bag!

Location: Humboldt County, California

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.