PENGUIN Little Ray of Sunshine

I enjoyed this book, however, it did give me some concerns. Are most adoptive children really left with huge psychological problems re. being adopted? Do they all want to find their birth parents as the book seems to state? My experience is not so. We have 2 adopted children in my family, my sister's children, now adults and I have 2 friends who have also adopted children. Certainly, with regards to my niece and nephew, they were never treated any differently from any other of the children in our family, they were welcomed and loved: both were adopted as babies and both were told that they were adopted when they were young.In the book we have Matthew, the adopted child of Monica and Sanjay. He is nearly 18, spoilt, manipulative and over compensated for the fact that he's adopted and immature. It is correct what his younger sister says of him later in the book. A few weeks from his 18th birthday, when his adoption records would be opened and he could legally find his birth mother if he wished, he actually descends on 35 year old Harlow, his birth mother, in her bookstore, without first contacting her or speaking to his adoptive parents. Harlow faints. Harlow got pregnant at 17, purely by accident, birth control had been used, but obviously failed. Her so-called boyfriend is horrified and accuses her of getting pregnant on purpose to trap him and tells her that he will pay for the abortion. Harlow decides to have the baby and choose a couple to adopt her baby (something that is done in the USA). Out of 100 applicants Harlow chooses Monica and Sanjay because they obviously love each other and are natural with each other. Harlow doesn't tell anyone about the pregnancy except her friend Rosie. However, giving up her baby is incredibly hard for her and really traumatises her from then on. She doesn't believe that she is worthy of a happy relationship or children and draws back from every chance of a meaningful relationship.Then we have 61 year old Cynthia, a sort of cousin of Harlow's family and the goddaughter of Grandpop. As it turns out Cynthia is also adopted, but is perfectly happy with that. She loved her adoptive parents and was perfectly content. However, Cynthia is a really dreadful, unlikable person, Bought up by an incredibly snobby adoptive mother, who taught Cynthia to believe that she was superior to everyone else, she looks down upon her "cousins", is bitter, jealous and also a thief.I did enjoy the book on the whole, a good read.

Okay. I tried. I really, truly did. I even did the slow-down move Meg Ryan’s character does in ‘You’ve Got Mail’. You know the one, she comes down the stairs, about to meet the man she’s been emailing back and forth with. She does a little ‘jog’, then put her hands down by her side, as if saying slow down, don’t hurry.That was me as I voraciously read Kristan Higgins’Little Ray of Sunshine’. I came out of my book fog, and saw that I was nearly at the end of this beautiful, and beautifully told, story.Author Kristan Higgins has done it again. Her books will make you laugh, cry, feel the emotions we all share. Her characters are lifelike. Wonderful, funny, heart wrenchingly authentic and yes, even flawed, just as all human beings are.The dynamics of family relationships is brought to life in every one of the characters in ’A Little Ray of Sunshine’. Do yourself a solid. Run, don’t walk, to purchase/borrow from a friend or a library, this book. It’s wonderful. Thank you Kristan Higgins. You’ve done it again! I’ll remember these characters and their stories for a very, very long time. You grabbed my heart, touched my soul, and made me ever grateful that I discovered your books, once upon a time, in our town library. I am a lifelong fan.I only have one request. Promise that you will never stop writing.

What a book! The family dynamics were wonderful. It made me laugh. It made me cry. The main characters in this book are three completely different women. Cindy starts out as a total stick in the mud character. Not a very happy person. Monica is a woman used to being in control and when some of her control leaves her, she is very much at odds. Harlow has spent her life aching for the one thing she gave away. Kristan couldn’t have written a better book.

I discovered Kristan Higgins a few years back and oved her books - I have bought and read them all! That being said...this isn't my favorite and if it were my first, it would probably be my last. I love the humor she writes with but the political slant she has taken on is a turn off. She's obviously liberal, I got that from this book (never had an impression one way or the other before), and I almost feel she flat out doesn't like anyone else. The nasty, thieving "cousin" is clearly labeled a conservative. The praise for Hamilton jabbing even a few republicans saw it. The clear stance on abortion facility availability (which I know has to be mentioned in an adoption book - the sentence just stood out and felt like there HAD to be a clear statement that THIS is how it should be). The poorly developed gay and trans characters as well as it being pointed out MULTIPLE times that Harlow gave her baby to a multi-cultural family...I get it. You want to cover all the bases. For me, it took away from the story and didn't add anything meaningful. People can just be interesting people and that's ok. As much as I loved her previous books, I don't like this one. I just like a good story about good people who find their way with a good dose of humor and romance. That seemed to be Higgin's recipe for success, and it was great! At times I felt this was like watching the news getting opinions pushed at me from every angle. This sounds stupid, but I was actually left feeling sad because if this is the style she is adopting, I have lost my favorite author and podcaster (where I have been picking up a political undercurrent, as well). I'll just reread the old ones, not preorder the next without reading the reviews, and hope this was a little blip.

My FAVORITE AUTHOR has a new novel out now!!! A Little Ray of Sunshine focuses on the effects of adoption of the lives of the mother, the child, and the adopting family. As always, Kristan handles sensitive issues with beauty and grace mixed with humor. You will fall in love with Harlow and her grandfather. Sympathize with Monica as she watches her son create a new relationship. The novel is set in Cape Cod and the community Kristan has created for us makes me want to go visit. This is a fantastic summer read. I cannot recommend Kristan Higgins more highly.