When the son Harlow put up for adoption shows up in Cape Cod for the summer, her life gets turned upside down.

I really enjoyed this! The audiobook was very good!

Thank you to @netgalley @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @prhaudio for a free download of the audiobook. And thank you to @berittalksbooks and @dg_reads for including me on this buddy read.

Ok…why was this book so long?! I normally love Kristan Higgins books, but this one missed the mark for me. I think the only reason I finished was because I had the audio.

I feel too much was attempted in this book that it seemed disjointed to me. I would have enjoyed it more if it was just Harlow and Matthew’s story with a little Gray sprinkled in. I didn’t feel Cynthia or Rosie’s storylines were necessary.

I did love all the emotion from all sides of the adoption story though.

3 stars

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I love it when a new Kristan Higgins book comes out, I know I’m going to read a well written and well plotted story.

In this book, a woman named Harlow lives a quiet life on Cape Cod, running a bookstore. One day, a young man walks into her store and she discovers it’s her son that she gave up for adoption as a baby.

His presence changes everything, not only for his birth mother and her family, but also for his adopted parents. He didn’t tell them the reason why he wanted to visit Cape Cod, and they’re shocked and angry with him. We’re there while both families integrate this new reality into their lives.

This is a fantastic book, and I was sorry it had to end. It’s women’s fiction at its finest, 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I haven’t read much by Kristan Higgins but will be in the future. I really enjoyed this book. There was a lot of emotions but also balanced with humor That kept it lighthearted. I wanted to dive right into the book and live in their book store!

First of all this cover screams summer, doesn’t it?
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Harlow lives a quiet life running a bookstore with her grandfather. That is until an 18 year walks in the bookstore and drops the bombshell. Matthew is the child she gave up for adoption all those years ago. This one announcement changes everyone’s lives. Monica questions her relationship with her son. Harlow questions her decisions and Matthew questions everything. This is a summer that everyone’s lives change. This is a story of self discovery and everyone discovering what happiness truly means to them.
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This is a great poolside read!

Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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This book was good until I got 80% through and it went downhill for me. I was so irrationally angry with the ending and the choices Harlow made.

Possibly spoilers ahead??


The fact Harlow let the son she gave away for adoption stay with her for a year because he wanted to?? And take him away from his actual family??? And lied to his adoptive parents that she tried to dissuade him. Girl, you’re a liar. Oh and don’t let me forget she had an awakening at the end that she could be her crush’s daughter’s mother??? Get a grip. Nothing like an immature 35 year old.

ALSO, wtf did Cynthia have anything to do with this story? Literally the most unnecessary POV chapters.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Harlow lives on Cape Cod and runs a bookstore, Open Book, with her grandfather and his goddaughter. Harlow’s parents, who are still so into each other, and her four siblings are close — although as the eldest Harlow was forced to grow up fast and help take care of her younger siblings.
One day a teenager and his father walk into Open Book and drop a bomb. The teenager, Matthew, is the baby that Harlow gave away after she gave birth at 17. No one in her family knows that she had a baby — she was at college at the time and has kept the secret ever since.

I actually can’t believe this book was 512 pages because it flew by. Kristan Higgins can write a great story that will suck you in. She’s my favorite these days for summer beach reads with substance.

Kristan Higgins is one of my all-time faves! Her books have great characters, idyllic Cape Cod settings, and always a good doggie. I recommend these to anyone who likes romance or a high- quality easy read.

Don’t be fooled by the mass market paperback look of these books— Higgins should be held in as high esteem as Emily Henry.

I have some mixed feelings about A Little Ray of Sunshine. Some of the characters are just...straight-up unlikable for the majority of the book, so getting to their redemption is a bit of a slog. I do also wish we'd seen more interactions between Grady and Harlowe and maybe focused a little less on other characters.

However, the story was compelling, Harlowe was lovely, and I had an overall good time reading this book. I'm still missing the Kristan Higgins of the early days, but this was one of my favorites of her more recent books.

Not my favorite Kristan Higgins. I had a hard time with Harlow and her choices. She was heartbroken giving up her child for adoption at seventeen but she had a big, loving family that would've helped her raise this child so I felt her reasons for giving up her son were weak. All the anguish she went through felt avoidable to me. Monica's POV was a little tough for me too. She had so much on her plate, trying to be the perfect mother, while being the main breadwinner. I actually ended up enjoying Cynthia's POV the most even though she was completely awful to begin with.

what a precious and fun read!! i am always so thankful to netgalley for giving me access to books before they come out. this was such an enjoying read! you should definitely check it out when it comes out!!!

Many years ago Harlow gave up her baby boy for adoption. Monica always thought she had a great relationship with her adopted son, Matthew. Both women are in shock when Matthew arranges a summer vacation in Cape Cod so he can meet his birth mother. Harlow runs a small bookstore and is happy with her quiet life. When her best friend from High school returns to the Cape with his 3 year old daughter she is unsure what life is trying to do. Life has a way of throwing you curves and it's up to you how you handle them. A good story.

Thank you Berkley for the gifted copy.

I just love Kristan Higgans' books, and this new one is no exception. A Little Ray of Sunshine is about Harlow, who owns a bookstore in Wellfleet, along with her grandpa (my fav character in the book) and her "cousin" Cynthia. One day at work, a man and his teen son walk in - and SURPRISE - it's Harlow's son that she gave up for adoption minutes after he was born 17+ years ago.

We are brought along on an emotional journey as Harlow and her son Matthew navigate the what's next in their relationship. Matthew's adoptive parents, Monica and Sanjay, had no idea that Matthew was going to blindside Harlow, and have to figure out the best way for their family to deal with this surprise situation too.

Cynthia also gets chapters, and we learn about her past as an adoptee and why she is such a cantankerous person. I did like her story arc, but not as much as Harlow's.

Harlow's grandpa was absolutely hilarious in a lovable old person way. His dialogue made me laugh out loud.

Overall, I didn't like this one as much as Out of the Clear Blue Sky, but it's an enjoyable read. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

I was hesitant about this book-I received an ARC but didn't read it until after the publication date. I have read a lot of Kristan Higgins-I really adore her writing style, but books about adoption often miss the mark when they are written by folks outside of the adoption triad. This book was not one of them-it was obviously very well researched and thought out. It was warm, heartfelt and a really beautiful portrayal of a complicated situation. It was hopeful without being saccharine. What a lovely story to kick off my summer reading! Great characters-full of real depth and emotions. Beautiful setting.

A Little Too Perfect

3.5 stars

A Little Ray of Sunshine is a family drama about adoption, family, and a mother's unwavering love for her child.

When she was 17 years old, Harlow Smith gave her baby boy up for adoption. 17 years later, her grown son Matthew walks into her bookshop to meet her. Antics ensue, family drama erupts, and unexpected romances develop.

Narrated by Harlow, Cynthia (Harlow’s distant cousin), and Monica (Matthew’s adoptive mother), I enjoyed villainous cousin Cynthia’s chapters the most. Her character spoke the truth, and her harsh tone was refreshing as it cut through the sappiness of the other chapters. Monica’s chapters were my least favorite. I understood her fears and emotions, but something about her that I couldn’t connect with. Harlow’s chapters were fine. She tells the bulk of the story. It took time for me to warm up to her, but I was rooting for her by the end.

The plot focuses on the present, but all characters flashback to the past to better understand their present.

Higgins brings the setting, Cape Cod, to life. The beach, atmosphere, and descriptions of food and scenery transported me to the Cape. In addition, the town is filled with the quirky characters one comes to expect from Higgins. Grandpop was my favorite character.

This is a light and easy summer read--maybe a little too easy for the topic of adoption and motherhood (I expect more from Higgins). Everything felt a little too perfect and too convenient plotwise. I wasn’t fully clear on what made Harlow decide to have Matthew, and her rationale for not keeping him didn’t make 100% sense (I get her logic, but something was missing).

However, when it came to the moment when she gave up Matthew to his adoptive parents, I cried. There were a few other moments that had me teary-eyed. Several scenes had me laughing out loud, usually in response to Grandpop. This became a much more emotional read than I anticipated.

There is a romance mixed in, but it is minor in comparison to the other storylines.

Characters from Clear Blue Sky also make an appearance, which was fun.

Overall, I would recommend this for a fun summer escape read with some emotions mixed in--to fully enjoy, I would recommend not thinking while reading this--that’s when the flaws will emerge.

Thank you to Elisha Katz, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

4.5 stars. Harlow is shocked when the baby she gave up nearly 18 years ago shows up at her Cape Cod bookstore. Turns out he’s visiting for the summer with his family and hoping to get to know her. Harlow is overjoyed but things quickly get complicated.

I really enjoyed this book. The alternating narratives with Harlow, her son’s adoptive mother, and a deeply bitter distant cousin tell a rich story of big choices, bigger consequences, and deciding to live a full life. Took a half star off because of a choice Harlow makes near the end of the book that I just couldn’t believe. It didn’t feel consistent with her character.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

Thanks for the ARC Net Galley.
I really liked this one, nut warning it has adoption stories in it for anyone with triggers.

The stories of two women’s adoptions play out in this book, but it’s really all about family and how complicated family can be. It’s also about healing, and that’s what makes this book feel hopeful. I also enjoyed the complicated love story. At times this one dragged a bit for me, but I can’t figure out why. Overall, a great read and I will suggest it to library customers.

Thank you so much to Berkley for this book!

Bonus points that this was one of the first books where a character and I shared a first name- Destiny, so that made my day!

I loved the beginning and the heartfelt reunion scene and was super hopeful this would be a win for me. I think the story just got a little too bogged down for me with all of the other characters and their drama.

This was my first Kristan Higgins and while it wasn't my favorite, I'll still be open to what she writes in the future.

This book is out now!

This book took me a little while to get into, but once I did, I found it sweet. Told from multiple POV, this book tells of a birth mother reunited with her teenage son. While that story is compelling, I also loved the side plots as well-all examining what family means. As I read this book, I thought many times about how honest it was. Oftentimes in books, romantic, over the top things happen to drive the plot. While there is a little of that here, of course; I found the characters’ actions and reactions to be honest and realistic. I found that refreshing. Overall a fun summer read. Thanks to @netgalley and to Berkeley for this arc!

Higgins is one of my favorite authors, and continues to be after reading this book. Women’s fiction resonates best when family issues and relationships are at the basis of the story. When Matthew bursts into Harlow’s bookstore, Harlow is in shock, recognizing the adopted father, Sanjay, of the son she gave up for adoption. Matthew’s family was unaware of his plans and the family unit is disturbed. I enjoyed the book and the characters, particularly Grandpop. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.