This book follows the story of two families torn apart by the discovery of not only a little boy’s cancer but also of an affair. Sejal Badani does an absolutely amazing job at getting you to understand both sides of this tragic tale. This story really makes you think about how such discoveries can wreck your life but also the lives around you. Though this story has a focus on our main character’s child, with his cancer diagnosis, there is the most compelling subplot of self-discovery and gaining independence on behalf of our main character. I listened to this book on audio, and I have to say it was a masterpiece, the prose sounded all the more beautiful for the narration. The story was only made the more compelling and addictive with the ease of consuming it audibly. The narrator of this book did an incredible job giving the characters unique voices and distinct personalities, it only served to make the experience more immersive. I went into this book with not the highest of expectations as this isn’t the type of story I would usually gravitate towards, but I was blown out of the water with this one! Even if you think this story might not be for you, I urge everyone to get this book added to their TBR!

I have enjoyed previous releases from Sejal Badani. I was honored to have the chance to read their newest novel, The Sun's Shadow. I was far from being disappointed. I can not say how much I loved this book. This is one of those stories that will invoke a variety of emotions all throughout. I would advise others to keep their tissues handy at all times. They will thank me later. The author does a wonderful job in writing a story of difficult decisions, struggles, pain, and thought provoking. I was often wondering and asking myself, "what would I do?". It demonstrated the complexities of difficult relationships, struggles of moving past traumatic pasts, and the power of forgiveness. It was not a plot that I could have easily been able to predict and never knew what would happen from scene to scene. I did not want to stop turning the pages, continuing to turn the pages, and staying up late at night doing so. Overall, I thought it was a fabulous read.
I had the pleasure of listening to the audio version of The Sun's Shadow. I believed the performances of the two narrators, Kate Rudd and Vanessa Johansson, were superb. They were a great addition to bringing the story to life.
I am going to give The Sun's Shadow five stars. I believe readers who enjoy reading drama filled fiction will love it as much as me. I hope to have more novels in my hands from the talented author, Sejal Badani, in the future.

I received a digital copy of Sejal Badani's The Sun's Shadow from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Family drama, years old secrets and betrayal made this book a lot of fun to read. I wasn't crazy about the characters but the story moved along and made sense as more secrets were revealed. I did like the two brothers relationship, it was sweet and up lifting. If you like family drama and big reveals you will enjoy this book. I listened to the audio version of the book and the narrators were acceptable. Recommended. 4 stars.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for a chance to listen/read an ARC audio version of this book.

I had the pleasure of listening to this audiobook after reading the ebook. I decided to do both on this occasion because it is such a powerful, emotional, thought provoking story. The audiobook seemed to bring the story alive. The narrators have done a brilliant job of making you feel what the characters are feeling. It's a hard hitting plot that brings up a lot of turmoil but what shines through is a mother's love for her child. It bought me to tears and I also truly felt the strength of the female characters as mother's there is nothing in the world you wouldn't do to save your child. Right or wrong!

This was my first book by Badani but I promise it will not be my last!! Her writing style is refreshingly straightforward, allowing authentic, heartfelt emotions to be felt. I love that her characters were incredibly relatable and their stories emotionally impactful. If you need a story that will give you a good emotional release, this is it.
With its emotional depth and meaningful themes,
The Sun’s Shadow sheds light on the compromises we make—not just for ourselves, but for those who matter most—showing how even the most giving decisions can carry both heartache and a sense of purpose. It was a truly heartfelt read that left me deeply touched.

If you’re in a book club, this would be a great pick for discussion!

“When you love someone, …it’s painful to hurt them, regardless of whether they learn about it or not.”

4.5 ⭐️

I had both an audio and a print copy ( which is gorgeous ) for this one but I started the audio thinking I’d listen to it for 30min while on the treadmill. Then it was just another 10 more min until I finished the book . I was quite interested to see how this story was evolved . For me , audio is perfect for this type of contemporary fiction . I have to admit I shed a few tears during this one - yes partially it was how sick Brian was, but also all the heartbreak and hurt caused by Eric and Felicity. If you like a good family drama, definitely give this one a try .

Now spoilers … be warned …
Felicity is the most self centred person I have ever read about . I have not disliked a character a much as I disliked her … How can someone so smart talk herself into believing she’s the victim in this situation 🤦‍♀️…. ! And yet, watching her evolve and grow through the course of the book was quite satisfying …
Eric is the biggest loser and lying cheat ever ! No matter how much the book tries to excuse his behaviour ( this is where it lost that elusive last half 💫 for me) … no . Just no…

Sejal Badani wrote one deeply moving book with The Sun's Shadow!

Synopsis:
Celine's life is suddenly upended when the equestrian farm from her childhood is up for purchase, her husband Eric becomes progressively distant, and their son Brian is diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. Felicity moves her and her son Justin in an attempt to get closer to Eric in order to create the family she's always wanted with Eric at her side. When Brian's cancer quickly progresses, it soon becomes clear that Justin's donation is the only attempt at Brian's survival.

Thoughts:
Both Celine and Felicity are such strong female characters! As their struggles came to the forefront of the story, Eric and his indiscretions quickly faded into the background (which was a fantastic choice on Badani's part). As I read, I continuously asked how I'd feel and react in these characters' circumstances. Though this book is heavy, with themes of forgiveness, acceptance, redemption, and the depths of a mother's love, Badani's writing is extremely smooth, making this story easy to read. Creating simple imagery, Badani elegantly weaves atmosphere into her words.

Having two audiobook narrators was the perfect choice! Kate Rudd and Vanessa Johansson had distinct voices, helping to create the framework for these two different women. Although emotionally performed, both narrators chose to keep their voice acting to a minimum, allowing the story to truly shine.

This was such a heart-wrenching story, but also one of the easiest five-star rating's I have ever given!

Thank you NetGalley, Wunderkind PR, Brilliance Publishing, and Brilliance Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

How devastating must it be to find out that their child has cancer? The author knows how to explore secondary themes, inserting the possibility of abuse into the plot first. When the cancer diagnosis is confirmed, we have a race against time to save a 12-year-old. The narrative is rich because that is not the only thing to be saved; we have a mother with a failed marriage who also wants to save her farm. The characters go through much, but there is a path to still believe in love, and radical changes are due to both families.

To save the child, the husband must unveil the secrets of another boy, a secret son who is older because he can be a match.

The author managed all the plot lines and twists very well. We have a married couple but an unhappy family struck by a terrible event; then there is the POV of another woman and her son, somehow captive by this man's double life for years.

My favorite character was the older brother, who had to make the decision to save his younger brother. He is polite, empathic, and honorable. The story wraps up with the drama, and we start rooting for these two families to find a middle ground where they can see each other without jealousy, expectations, or resentment. It's a sad novel but also hopeful and uplifting. I liked it a lot. Thank you, author, for the decisions towards the end to reward the characters who deserved a second chance and to punish appropriately the others who are due some consequences.

This was my first contact with this author's writing style, and I liked it a lot. Will look forward to reading more from this author.

I really liked this one!

The plot was somewhat predictable however I was into it from beginning to the end. I thought the character development was really good and I liked the narration

4 stars!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

Actual Rating 2.5

I was expecting to like this one more. I had a difficult time with the characters, which is never ideal in a character-driven work. We're told a lot of things about the characters and how they feel but it doesn't always align with their actions. The adults were kind of bland overall and there just wasn't much to engage with.

Part of the issue is that we get the POV of both women, and there aren't many events or much action in this work. This means we spend a lot of time hearing why both women feel right or wronged, their hurt, their angst, etc. It gets really repetitive and honestly felt like a lot of parts could have been skimmed (I had the audiobook version so no skimming for me). The work starts strong, but it could probably be trimmed by about 30% without losing anything pertinent.

I'm an outlier on this one, so if the premise sounds interesting to you then definitely check out the more positive reviews. My thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Book review: 4/5 ⭐️
Genre: contemporary fiction
Themes: family drama, illness, secrets and deceit, mothers making difficult choices
📖 Read if you like: My Sister’s Keeper, Love, Mom

An emotional read of an unconventional family torn asunder when fate’s cruel eyes land on the youngest member of the troupe and unravel a web of lies. Two women, both adoring mothers are forced to collide when the man they both claim to love needs his sons to meet. A family drama that will break your heart and force you to look at the situation from all angles, it was certainly a gripping tale.

Celine, his wife is on the precipice of change on all fronts. Her life is quickly spiraling into chaos as she is first notified that her childhood home and the source of her livelihood is to be sold, quickly followed by a diagnosis that will overshadow all else. When her twelve year old son Brian complains of pains and lands himself in the hospital the unimaginable happens. A leukaemia diagnosis that is rapidly progressing and resistant to treatment forces his father Eric to seek out his most likely match - his other son Justin.

Justin is seventeen and thriving after having just moved with his mother Felicity to be closer to Eric. She is a fierce woman of business acumen and beauty that rivals all others, but what she craves most is what another woman claims. Co-parenting their son since birth, Eric and Felicity have a strong friendship created over secret business trips that allowed Eric and Justin to form a wonderful relationship, even with the odd restrictions. But Felicity is no longer happy to stay in the shadows. Her feelings for Eric have grown over the years and what she craves is the family Celine has, no matter the cost.

What happens next is a page turner that was required to be read as quickly as possible. Brian and Justin who are both sweet boys that form an instant connection, but both mothers must look out for their own sons when one may be able to save the other. It explores the relationship between parents and their children and the unique bond between siblings when lies and secrets are unearthed. That first glimpse at seeing your parents as fallible, at withholding an essential truth is hard to swallow. As is the dual POV on this complicated family dynamic.

I liked that both women were given a voice and that their ultimate choices were from being a mother over being a lover. They also each sought out what would truly make themselves happy when given the chance, not merely the illusion of happiness and the solace found in others making choices. I still don’t think the other woman perspective makes Felicity likeable, but it did highlight the nuanced characteristics of the woman in the shadows. It proved a very interesting read and ended with a hopeful note.

What stopped it from being a five start read was that forgiveness and resolution felt very easy in such a complicated dynamic. I thought there should have been more tension and perhaps judgement over the revelation. I know there were larger matters at stake and the burying of hurt was a survival method, but I felt like one scene where Eric was really held accountable for his choices was needed. That being said, I highly recommend this book for those searching for a poignant family drama of what it means to be a mother and a woman.

This was such a great book. I found myself so invested in the characters and their stories. I loved the narrator as well. Thank you for the opportunity to listen.

❤️🎧Auduobook Review 🎧♥️ ARC 📚

📚 NETGALLERY FIND 📚

I LOVE THIS STORY, IT WAS THE FIRST READ BY THIS WONDERFUL AUTHOR. I AM IN AWE OF THE MAJESTY OF THIS TWNDER AND MOVING PLOT.

📚 CHAPTERS FLOW SMOOTHLY AND ELEGABTLY , I LOVE HOW THEY GIVE POINTS OF VIEWS

📚 THE AUTHOR ADDRESSES HARD TOPICS IN A SENSITIVE MANNER

📚 THE PLOT PULLS READER INTO A WORLD OF EACH CHARACTER WHICH MAKES READERS FEEL A DEEP SENSE OF EMOTIONS

📚 CHARACTERS HAD AN AIR OF VULNERABILITY AND COURAGE

📚BEAUTIFULLY TOLD PLOT THAT MAKES THIS A TRUE BEAUTY AND MASTERPIECE

5 STAR!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟


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Are you a believer in second chances? Check out The Sun’s Shadow by Sejal Bedani. It was a heartwarming listen.

Two families kept apart by secrets until the only thing worse than revealing the long-hidden secret is keeping it. The story unfolds as we learn about the lives of Celine and Felicity, the two women at the heart of the story. Unfortunately, the audiobook narrators have very similar voices so I had to pay more attention than usual since their inner voices were also similar. Otherwise the story, about secrets long held, kept my interest.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @BrillianceAudio, and #NetGalley for access to the audiobook of #TheSunsShadow for review purposes.

🎧4⭐️

I had the audiobook of this women’s fiction read by Kate Rudd and Vanessa Johansson who both do a good job.

What tangled webs we weave in life sums up the situation of Celine and Felicity who are the main female characters and the narrators of this moving family story.

It’s a slower paced very character driven story which drew me into the web created. My favourite characters are the two sons Justin and Brian, both lovely and caring. The characters are well crafted and relatable, non are really unlikeable which surprised me in the situation.

I enjoyed the storytelling, I found the ending to be a bit too philosophical and inner soul searching for my liking. It’s an easy listening enjoyable feel good read.