The concept of the story was interesting, but this one was not for me. 

SPOILERS BELOW

The story features a six-year-old Gracie Lynn, but I had to constantly question how old she really was for the things she was capable of doing, or what she said. 

I almost DNF when we got to the driving lesson. This style of car? A kid that age (strength and size)? 

And the scene with the car at the cemetery is so confusing.  While I'm at it... how does Gracie see her aunt's muddy very tall shoes when she's just woken up in hospital all dazed? 

I can forgive some things as long as there's someone I'm invested in, but I didn't get emotionally involved with any of these characters. 

I also felt there were many questions unanswered at the end.

This is the story of 6-year-old Gracie and her grandfather, who has dementia. Gracie is a very bright and precocious little girl. her grandfather has dementia. Gracie's mother has explained Sundowners Syndrome to Gracie, where confusion and violence get worse during the evening. Gracie's solution is to go on an adventure with her grandfather and follow the sun. She thinks that as long as they stay in the sunshine, her grandfather will be ok.

The story is told from Gracie's point of view and that of her mother and father. We follow Gracie on the “adventure” and experience the search with her separated parents when they realize that she is missing

It's an interesting but sad story.

Besides the story about the adventure it’s also a family tale. Lots of back story during the narration of the mother and father. There is longstanding dysfunction in the family. Though they mean well, both mother and father could use some life skill lessons. 

The grandfather is a very interesting character but his whole life story is based on “tall tales”.  

The characters of Mom and Dad are hard to like. But that's what makes the story evolve. 

Gracie is a sweetheart, sometimes a little too smart for her age. She is also very intuitive.

The ending is satisfactory. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

Warning: spoiler

This emotional debut explores the theme of family and what it takes to be better for the sake of our loved ones. Told in three first person's perspectives, I enjoyed Gracie's the most because it gives the most insight to the whole situation as well as providing important context to the story (sometimes I wish it was written completely in Gracie's POV, but then the genre could change to be children's fiction). I get that Dan's POV might be necessary since LeeAnn's relationship with her dad affects her relationship with her husband. But sadly I couldn't empathize with him especially after he makes excuses about cheating on LeeAnn for his happiness, even though he changes in the end. And Ashley–the AP–is depicted too nice IMO (doesn't she realize it's bad to date someone's husband?). Meanwhile, LeeAnn's POV contains more flashback so it can slow down the pace, but I like that some of it mirror Gracie's own experience later, like the drive to the beach.

I started it slow and gave it some time to really steep in my brain and once it did, it was a quick read full of reflection and meaning. I love that everything closes nicely and each character (except Corrine and the cronies) develops well. I'm also glad Gracie is surrounded by more people who love her even though she can't see his grandfather anymore. If you are in the mood of family drama and general fiction goodness, this book can be the right choice for you. 3.5 stars rounded up for our Gracie!

Thank you Alcove Press and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

What a heartbreaking family saga. I expected this to be a quirky and fun grandfather-granddaughter jaunt, but instead I got a tearjerker of a novel that reminds you how getting old is traumatic for all generations. 

I love the way the author told the story through multiple POVs and she did a great job not dumbing down the child’s perspective. In fact. she was my favorite narrator, reminding me how literally kids see everyday events. 

Highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the early ebook.

The majority of my career was spent in the long term care field so I was immediately interested in the plot about a young granddaughter breaking her beloved grandfather out of a nursing home. The story is presented from each family member’s viewpoint - Gracie, the young girl and her separated patents, Dan and LeeAnn. They live in South Carolina. Gracie’s thoughts and actions are quite engaging, authentic and age appropriate, I thoroughly adored her. Her absentee father made some egregious mistakes. Grandfather has dementia and LeeAnn hasn’t been entirely truthful in explaining it to Gracie. The spiteful mother has every reason to hate Dan but her vengeance only hurt the blameless little girl. LeeAnn was my least favorite, she tried to do and be everything for Gracie and she failed miserably The result was a petrifying wake-up call when Gracie and grandfather go missing. If it wasn’t such a serious situation, I would’ve giggled at the hilarious group of entitled PTA hussies who rally to help lead the search for Gracie. The story was easily read and has lessons we can all learn from. Dementia affects the entire family and is a devastating disease. Caregivers are overwhelmed, exhausted and are offered few resources for support.
Now, I’m going to get on my soapbox about the authenticity of the plot in regards to the nursing home references. Perpetuating the long held misconceptions of nursing home substandard facilities, care and the quality of life for those residents is shameful. They don’t all stink, they aren’t all depressing and gloomy. There are many beautiful, cheerful facilities where the focus is on living the best possible last stages of life, not dying. Each state has standards of care and policies which must be maintained in order to be licensed and funded. Stricter Federal laws supersede State and apply to all licensed nursing homes. A missing resident must reported to the police and the appropriate State agency immediately. Further, a resident exhibiting the behaviors referenced in the story would likely require placement in a secured unit, certainly would not be allowed to drive themselves. 
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy of “Sun Seekers” by Rachel McRady, published by Alcove Press. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

“Sun Seekers” is a debut novel by Rachel McRady. This story follows Gracie, a six year old, who wants to have an adventure with her grandfather, Big Joe. However, Gracie’s mother, Ashely, isn’t linked in on the adventure, so Gracie & Big Joe’s disappearance causes a number of issues. One issue is the fact that Gracie’s father, Dan, who is estranged from Gracie and Ashely, gets involved. In some ways, this was a rather bittersweet story - the love between Gracie and Big Joe is played out wonderfully on the page. I also thought care was given to explaining the horrors of dementia very well - especially in the mind of a young child. However, I could not really stand any of the other characters - especially Dan and Ashley. Because this is a debut novel, I’ve bumped my rating of 3.25 stars up to 4 because I do think the overall idea was good and I’d probably read another book by this author.

Absolutely fantastic. As a family therapist who worked with families/caregivers and those with dementia- this book is spot on to the struggles. Not only addressing the challenges of dementia, but what does it mean to be family, to love, to forgive. Highly recommend this book!

Sun Seekers is a bittersweet family drama. There are lots of misunderstandings, hurt feelings, difficult moments and frustrating memories for these beleaguered family members. There is sun but not enough to make their lives shine which is why a six year old runs away with her demented grandfather seeking more sun for their solemn lives. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Written in the first person from the perspective of a six year old, her mum and estranged father. The mother is a difficult person to like, even given her history, the child is rather precocious and a bit too knowing even when she gets things wrong, and the father Dan a little under developed. The grandfather, with early dementia, seems the most interesting character. With such a bright child and I didn't understand why the mother wasn't a little more honest re his diagnosis. 
After the child and her grandfather go missing, the mother finally realises she needs help and is ultimately able to rebuild relationships with her sister and soon to be ex-husband. 
I'm not over fond of first person narratives and found the three main characters rather annoying, and the child a bit unbelievable, which may have stopped me from feeling fully immersed in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free e-version of this book.

This is an emotional book about parenthood, dementia, raising kids and families that get reconfigured due to divorce and/or death.  But the story is sweet about a little girl who has an adventure with her grandfather who has dementia.  As a daughter of a woman who had Alzheimer’s and a husband with Lewy Body dementia, I found this book touching and heart warming.  May we all love our family members the way this little girl did.  May all families reunite in a new ways accepting new relationships , new feelings, and even new siblings. It is not a treatise on dementia but rather an emotional story about the ways people are perceived as their lives change.  Kudos to the author for uniting the generations.  

Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the Advanced Review copy.

A beautiful sad story written about a family and a trip the 6yr old and her grandfather who has dementia take. Great perspective written  in different people's parts makes it easy to follow along. A heartfelt story.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

I came across this book on TikTok and was instantly captivated by its cover. The description intrigued me so much that I couldn't resist heading straight to NetGalley to request an ARC.

What truly touched my heart was the story being told from the perspective of a 6-year-old whose grandfather is battling dementia and residing in a facility. The little girl makes a decision that she wants to spend some precious time with her grandfather and embarks on a final adventure with him. I don't want to give away too much and spoil the plot, so I'll leave it at that.

As mentioned in the description, Sunseekers is a must-read for fans of the Parenthood series. It beautifully captures the essence of family bonds and dynamics. It's hard to believe that this is the author's debut novel because it is incredibly compelling. I found myself completely immersed in the story, emotionally invested from beginning to end.

Rachel McRady has done an exceptional job in portraying a relatable and grounded family. The narration is so well-crafted, and the concept of the story is refreshingly original. The way the family dynamic is portrayed is nothing short of amazing. 

I want to share my heartfelt recommendation for this remarkable book. It has left a lasting impression on me, and I believe it will remain with me for a very long time. As someone who had a grandmother named Rachel, living with dementia, I connected with this book on a profound level. It resonated deeply within me, touching me in ways that are difficult to put into words.

So much thanks to NetGalley, Alcove Press and Rachel MCRady for this heartfelt and compelling read.

This was a great easy read. Nice summer book! Loved how the author changed the way she wrote when she was “Gracie” to match how a 6/7 yr old thinks and talks. That was such an added fun feature! I also loved how the story unfolded and how the reader learns more and more about each character the deeper the story goes. Very well done! Looking forward to more “works of art” from this author!

I very much enjoyed this book. The story is very engaging. I also found that development of the characters was well done. I appreciate how the story is told from three characters' perspectives but still works well to tell a seamless story. It's easy for the reader to follow along with.
McRady does a good job tackling difficult topics in ways that are palpable to readers making the characters flawed but not villians.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Grace's grandfather has dementia. She has an idea. She decided in her young age that they should take a vacation together. Her parents are frantic and have no idea where they are. I enjoyed this book.

A moving story, it really puts life into perspective. 
The writing flowed incredibly well and was easy to digest.
I’m looking forward to reading her next novel.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Sun Seekers by Rachel McRady is a heartfelt story about a mothers love for her child. LeeAnn is a single mom, always on the go and quite often a little distracted. She used to have it all until one fateful day, both joyous and mournful, left her lost and in never ending grief. Her father, John, is in a home and looks forward to his visits with his granddaughter Gracie. Gracie so wants to show her grandfather how much she loves him that she plans an adventure. Where will they go and where will they end up? I fell in love with Gracie from the beginning. Her personality resembled so much that of my own daughter’s that I couldn’t help but love her. LeeAnn, though closed off from others, reminded me a little of myself being so unsure and wanting to be the best at this parenting thing that I can. The author also did a great job of developing the other characters to create a story that was both lighthearted and, at times, relatable. I would definitely recommend this novel for those who enjoy light and realistic family drama.

I received a free copy of, Sun Seekers, by Rachel Mcrady,  from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Six year old Gracie wants to help her grandfather, but he has dementia, so she decides to break him out of the home he is at and go for a drive.  Her mother is frantic with worry.  Dementia is a horrible disease, Gracie does not understand the disease but knows she loved her grandfather.  This was a good read but sad, I did not care for Dan and Ashley at all, though.

What a sweet story!  A very relevant tale that will resonate with many readers. I like the way the author told it rotating characters for each chapter. Lots of life lessons here in this multigenerational book.

Sun Seekers by Rachel McRady was such a wonderful debut.

Sun Seekers is the kind of story that grabs you from the beginning, wraps around your heart, and doesn’t let go until long after you’re done reading.
Rachel McRady has written a beautiful, emotional story that is guaranteed to keep you turning the pages.
  
"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Alcove Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!