So different than Sawyer's other books, but possibly one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. It is certainly a hard read, but absolutely worth the journey. A five-star rating is not enough for a book that will haunt me.

Note, I did request and received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Gosh, WOWZERS! What a departure from this author's usual raunchier works.

This was an AMAZING and MOVING story.

Four incongruous people embark on a road trip across America. This journey will change their outlook and their lives forever.

“Each one of us hates our life. It’s a burden for us. It’s unfair. It’s nothing but misery and torment…”

Four people with seemingly nothing in common come together in a therapy group. They are all troubled in one way or another. Two are approachable and talkative, whilst the other two are snarky and standoffish.

“I am a man who cannot be redeemed.”

Told from the POV of Christopher Barlow, who is an ex-Marine and amputee. He’s wallowing in bitter, angry darkness. He’s forced to go to the therapy group in lieu of going to jail. There he meets Jillian, who he’s attracted to and emanates lightness; Connor, who’s dying of cancer; and Barb, who has a perpetual death wish.

The road trip across America is for Connor to see the Pacific Ocean before he dies. Along the way, he has a number of bucket list items to tick off.

“She actually radiates light. Happiness. Joy. Invincibility regardless of her situation.”

What starts off as a difficult journey taken by four quite different people, ends up being a real journey of discovery and self-discovery. It’s a story about love, friendship, despair, and faith. It’s a story about the strength of the human spirit, as well as its fragility.

“Jillian makes me want to believe in the possibility of happiness, and I vow to myself that I’m going to have her show me how it’s done.”

This was such an incredible, emotional, and heartbreaking journey. It was stunning and poignant watching how this motley quartet bonded, and how they affected one another. Christopher begins the story full of anger at his situation. He spews his bitterness over everyone, however, Jillian, the epitome of goodness and sunshine, pierces his darkness with her brightness, giving him a new lease of life and making him view everything with new eyes.

Thoroughly, thoroughly recommend this novel. Top Read 2017.

I don't know that I'm ready to start this one. My box of tissues is handy and I might grab a glass of wine...(posted as I picked up to read)
Now five hours later, when I should have gone to bed two hours ago, but I Couldn't Put It Down.
This does not happen often in which I read the entire book in one sitting. The Truth About Sunshine draws you in. The characters are so real you think they are going to walk off the page. This book will change your view on so many things. Depression, it's more prevalent than you can imagine. Don't think for one second you can know what's going on in someone else's mind. Sawyer gives us a glimpse into the lives of four troubled souls as they connect on a cross country journey. She gives us ups, laughs and downs. But at the end the sun will still be shining and life moves on.

Side note: Listen to the warnings, if suicide or sexual assaults are going to harm your psyche this is not the book for you.

PSA: National Suicide Hotline Call 1-800-273-8255
Available 24 hours everyday

Veteran's Suicide Hotline:

Confidential support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year through the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 and Press 1) and online chat , and text (838255).

There are two things I have to say about my reading habits, before I talk about this book:

1. I read happy books. Books that might be angsty, but that I know will be happy in the end. I mean, I read mysteries that sometimes don't end happily, but I don't pick up books I know will not end well.
2. There are very few authors I trust enough to override my book preferences, and read their books, regardless. Sawyer Bennett is one of those authors.

This book is magnificent. It made me curious, hopeful, uplifted, devastated, and hopeful yet again. I smiled, I basked in the sunshine, and I cried. I'm still crying as I write this, but you know what? The sunshine's still there, reminding me of the hope these characters all gave me. I don't know how else to talk about it, or describe it, other than to say it's an experience not to be missed.

This story will run you through all sorts of different emotions, it will break your heart, make you laugh, cry but it will also remind you that life is full circle we live, love and die and will its hard and it hurts if the story is told right its a celebration. I am so happy that Sawyer Bennett had wanted to tell this story because I know that I am better for it.

Told from Christopher's POV he has lost it all, his career, his girl and his leg. Forced to go to a group he meets others he knows are not in as much pain as he is, even when one is losing her eye sight, one is dying and the other is also forced to be there. These four unlikely people who probably would have never meet if life worked the way it was supposed to decide to go on a cross country trip, what they find is amazing and for Christopher he may just find love again.

If you have read Sawyer Bennett's books in the past be prepared this is nothing like she has ever written. The journey she takes the readers on is so well written that I thought I was there with them. I love that each character has a secret that they are keeping to themselves especially Jillian who is going blind we have to remember things are not always as they seem and that's ok. This is a standalone book that does have a HEA even if it is unconventional. This book may not be for everyone but I promise if you give it a chance you will walk away thinking of life in a different way.

I'm a huge Sawyer Bennett fan and have read all her books. This book was so different than her other books and I was nervous about reading it because it seemed more 'serious' than what I usually read. This book made me smile, laugh, and cry. It made me think about life and the stories that are not always told. This was an amazing book! I also loved the section at the end which told of the personal experience she had that led her to write the story.

I really dont know where to start or finish with talking about this book! I've been a fan of Sawyer's for years but this book is completely different then anything i've ever read by her. This book hits all your feels, anger, sadness, pity, hate, compassion, love, smiles, laughs, tears, cheers, shock, guilt, i dont think a single emotion was left untouched.

Going into the book i knew that it wasn't the typical Sawyer experience, she warned and warned me, but this book was like seeing straight into her soul and catching a glimpse of her that she has never given us before.

Four completely different people, four completely different upbringings, four completely different battles they are facing or have faced or will face, brought together or forced together in some cases to start the healing process. They all have something to learn from each other or have something they can share.

I couldn't put this book down! Pulled an all nighter and ever lied to friends saying i wasn't feeling well (fake cough lol) so i could hide in my room all day Saturday to finish. I was pulled into the lives of Christoper, Jillian, Beth and Connor from Page 1! Christopher's foul mouth, fouler attitude and just complete hate for life. Jillian with her sunny outlook on life even when her future will eventually be cloudy and dark everyday thru her eyes. Connor and his happiness even while walking with a death sentence hanging over his young head. Beth with her hurtful remarks that she hides her pain behind cus she feels that life just isnt worth living. These people will stick with me for a very long time, they have taught me lessons about life that i hope to carry forward, they have shown me that there is way more then just one way to look at life and to never take the simplest things for granted.

This is THE BOOK that will stay with me for a long time. There are so many feels in this that still need to be sorted through it will take some time but this will be at the top of my recommendations list. Four people start a cross country trip after being in the same therapy group. This is an extension of the group and what starts out as something to get out of the rest of therapy, turns into a lesson in life. A boy with cancer, a veteran with anger issues, a suicidal woman, and a woman who has been given a diagnosis that will ultimately leave her blind. Together they are traveling across the country to get to the Pacific Ocean but on the way they learn more about each other and themselves than they planned. This book had me laughing at times and crying and ultimately left me knowing I will definitely be buying and sharing this book with others.

This one is highly recommended to EVERYONE!

**Received an ARC copy for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

Wow this is deep feelings and deep struggles. Very different. These group is dysfunctional but put together somehow works. When a depressed group with a lot of issues go on a across country trip together they start to grow as human beings. At first these characters feel like no one else's troubles compares to theirs. Then when they start opening up and bonding, it helps them have a different look on life and death. It is actually beautiful to read the journey that they take and how much they grow together. The look on life after you have been dealt a tough one is not always pretty, and this book is hard truth. Read it, it will enrich and widen your eyes to feelings and decisions that maybe you never considered people have to deal with.

WOW...now that I've gotten past the huge ugly cry this emotionally charged story brought on I am going to try and write a somewhat comprehensible review. First and foremost - if you haven't purchased your copy of this one, go, now, do it!!! Five stars is not nearly enough to describe the story that is contained in this book. It will pull out every emotion contained within you from joy to sadness, from happiness to anger, you will feel something from every single page. I don't want to get into too much of the story because you will want to experience everything yourself as you turn the pages. Just know that even though it will make you cry (yes, even the hardest hearts will cry) it is a story that will leave you with hope. Hope for a brighter tomorrow and the life it contains.

Wow I don't even know what to say on this one.

Sawyer has completely outdone herself with this book...

4 people each with their own struggles and demons set out on a road trip. Watching friendships grow, love prosper and innocence being lost was the post heartfelt thing I have read in a long time.

Christopher Barlow is an ex marine who lost his right leg and some fingers off his right hand when an IED exploded whilst on tour. Connor is a teen with terminal cancer and feels suffocated by his parents. Barb is a young woman who was abused by her uncle and has suicidal issues. And Jillian is an optimist who is loosing her eyesight. What do they have in common - Group Therapy. They meet weekly to either fulfil the court order or to seek help with their problems. It is not until Jillian suggests a road trip to complete a bucket list item for Connor that this group of misfits start to bond.

Told in Christopher's POV, they travel across the county and start crossing off a few other wishes that they want to achieve for each other. Even after a few days, they have a strong union with experiencing this once in a life time journey.

It is a different change of pace from the normal Swayer book but it was brilliant just the same. Christopher pulled on my heartstrings the most, but truthfully I enjoyed each character for them self. Jillian may seem to always be bubbly and enthusiastic but she is human like the rest of us and her fears come to light. Barb wasn't as cold and hard as she made out either, helping Conner with a personal bucket list item, his favourite, was selfless. Conner may have worried about dying but more so for his parents. And Christopher, the asshole, came to terms with his injuries physically and mentally with a little help from his "friends".

A contemporary romance with characters that blossom into their true selves from adversity, always is a great read for me. Even though there is next to no sex in this book, some of the hottest things are the romantic things Christopher says to Jillian. He was not an asshole at all. Just needed the right person to help him see the sunshine. Highly recommend.

** I received a copy from the publishers for an honest review. **

I just finished and WOW.... this book is different from her other books... was not sure about it when I started... AMAZING... a whirlwind of emotions and a unique look at what life is... as it is much different for every person. I loved it! Must read....

This story takes you on a journey with 4 different people from 4 different walks of life, all a little broken, but they are all in the same therapy group thinking all the others have it better than they do..... until the go on a trip across county and really start to get to know each other. There is friendship, love, laughter, shenanigans, loss, guilt, understanding and above all LOVE... It is a WONDERFUL addition to Sawyer's books. I can't wait for my friends to read this beautiful book.

I have never read a more emotional heart wrenching book......you will laugh, cry, hate the characters and love them. It's a sad love story and I believe will be loved by all that read it. And in my opinion would make a great movie. Following the four unlikely friend as they go on an adventure and mark off bucket list items!!!

I am a die hard fan of Sawyer Bennett's and will read anything she writes. I probably should have read the description for this book before reading it. If you are going into this thinking it will be her normal romance books, it is not. It is heartbreaking and gut wrenching. Most books that I'm told will bring me to tears don't. This book had me ugly crying. Just be forewarned.

The book was very difficult to put down and reads very quickly. A broken Marine, a dying boy, a suicidal girl and a girl with an incurable disease, that meet somewhat through chance. Brought together by tragedy, their lives will be forever changed.

This is not a hot and steamy romance. It's tragedy with a silver lining, and somewhat of a HEA. You will have an emotional book hangover when you finish reading. The book was amazing, even with the subject matter. Make sure you have a box of Kleenex handy, you will need it. Some of the content may be disturbing for some readers. If I had to do it all over again, I would read it in a heartbeat. It was a amazing story, but it was heartbreaking, keep that in mind. Another book Sawyer Bennett knocked out of the park!! Happy Reading!!

This story is a departure from Sawyer’s sexy romantic stories; however, it is a story not to be missed. Four of the most unlikely characters (an amputee, a goth girl, a teenage boy with a bucket list, and a girl who radiates sunshine) take a road trip across the country as part of their group therapy. Each of them dealing with issues that they handle in their own unique ways. During this trip, they open up to each other, sharing their stories and experiencing new things as they help Connor cross off items on his bucket list. Sawyer weaves a vivid story of their journey, taking the reader on an emotional rollercoaster through their pain, their sadness, and their laughter.
This is a must-read book!

Beautiful, just beautiful. A complete 180 for Sawyer Bennett, the story follows 4 group therapy patients on a road trip across America fulfilling bucket lists. The story is told from Christopher Barlow's POV, Christopher who is 26, is an ex marine who lost his leg above the knee as well as and a couple of fingers in the line of duty. As well as his loss of limbs, he has many many scars, both physical and emotional, and after being convicted of assault he is given the choice of group therapy or jail. He chooses group therapy. He has no intention of getting involved in the therapy sessions, but when the opportunity arises where he can reduce the number of sessions he attends by taking a road trip with the group which include a 17 year old terminally ill boy (Connor), a 24 year old girl (Barb) who has been abused and is suicidal, and a 21 year old girl (Jillian) who is slowly going blind. Connor and Jillian have become firm friends, and it only takes a few days into the road trip for Christopher to begin to open up to them. In between camping and motels the group finally start to bond and start to open up to each other, even Barb who is the hardest nut to crack, opens up a little. On the way they have adventures visiting places of interest and doing a few crazy things. The story is beautifully written, passionate, heartwarming and so very emotional (it had me laughing one minute and crying the next), it is a book that I have no doubt will stay with me forever.

**Advanced copy received from the author and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Wow. I'm rarely at a loss for where to start with a review, but what I can tell you about The Hard Truth About Sunshine is that it is a book that is going to leave it's mark and is going to stay with you long after you read it. If I could give it more than five stars, I would. This book is real and it is raw. It deals with topics that are going on around us each and every day whether or not we realize that we are being touched by them.

This is a story of discovery, adventure, pain, loss, love and most of all hope. I'm not sure there is an emotion that is not touched upon as you go on the journey with these four very, very different people, yet they are all struggling with something that ultimately bonds them together. While the issues or traumas that they are dealing with in their own lives are vastly different, the idea of having a tribe to lean on is one of the most important things they can give themselves. This book drives home a powerful point about relationships and how important they are not only to shaping who people become, but also the path they choose to take in the future.

Sawyer Bennett has said herself that this is unlike any book she has ever written, but I for one think it is absolutely one of her best. I can't do this book justice with my words, so you'll need to take my word for it and read it for yourself. It will make you think, it will make you feel and it will make you look inside yourself and maybe it will cause you to look at situations a little bit differently. This is by far one of the best books I've read so far this year. Kudos to you, Sawyer, for taking these important issues and bringing them to light in such a poignant and powerful way.

Absolutely amazing book! So incredibly well written that I think Sawyer Bennett has found a new genre to write in. This is such a gut-wrenching, powerful and deeply poignant story about four young people whose lives intersect in group therapy and they embark on a journey cross country that will completely change their lives forever.
This book speaks to your heart from the beginning and sometimes will make it burst with joy while other times ripping it out. It is incredibly moving and will take you on an emotional journey unlike any other.
10 stars for this wonderful story about friendship, love, faith, weaknesses, strength and acceptance.

Wow! This book is so different from Sawyer’s regular books. This is a book that makes you think, feel, and realize how hard this world is to live in for some people. Most of us live in our own little bubble and never see the pain and desperation that some people do through. Sawyer sure helped to open my eyes and touched my heart so deeply.

This story is about four emotionally and physically messed up people. Christopher Barlow hit an IED while driving in Afghanistan and lost part of his right leg and two fingers on his right hand among other things. Jillian Martel has a disease that is causing her to slowly lose her eyesight as well as a weak heart that may cause her to have a heart attack. Connor McCann is 17 almost 18, has terminal cancer, and only a few months to live. Barbara (Barb) Stiles was sexually abused as a child and has tried to kill herself. They are all in therapy together. Jillian and Connor are the only two who truly talk. Jillian comes up with an idea for them all to take a trip to the west coast as Connor has a bucket list and one of the things on his list is to see the sun set on the west coast before he dies. After a little encouragement, they all decide to go on the trip. You have to read the book to see what happens on this trip and learn more why some of them are the way they are.

This book was a little depressing when I first started reading it. Once the group started on their trip and I got to know them better, I fell in love with the book. I went through so many emotions while reading this, but it felt good to be outside my comfort zone for a change. There is so much about life to learn in this book. I feel I am a better person for reading this book and really thinking about what was said. Thank you Sawyer Bennett. I strongly encourage you to read this book. If you have an open heart, this will touch you deeply. I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book.