I really loved this book, and finished it in a couple of days. The book follows Tess, a young poet who has been temporarily blinded in an accident. I found her likeable as a character, though at times I wanted to give her a shake. Luckily the other main character, Weston, did this for me. I really loved Weston, he was so beautifully optimistic, despite the hardships he had had to overcome and he set about helping Tess, whether she wanted him to or not! I also loved the friendship between Weston and his best friend Rudy, I want a Rudy in my life! The book described both of their emotions and thoughts well along the way, you grow to really like them and by the end I was desperate to find out what happened. It also made me really consider how it would feel to be blinded, or to be physically impaired in another way and I came away from the book with new respect for those that keep going, no matter what happens.

I absolutely loved this book! I had a hard time putting it down because I needed to know what happened next to these sweet characters.

This story follows two characters, Tessa & Weston, each facing their own disability together. Tessa and Weston’s growth during this novel was just a joy to read about even when the stuff was tough because they leaned on each other during the tough stuff.

I loved how this book was written in alternating chapters and that you get Weston’s backstory over time. It also shows each of them struggling through the same thing just at different times of their lives and that just shows the growth of the characters as well.

Highly recommend! Absolutely loved it. Definitely will be buying my own copy :)

Arc provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Tessa Dickinson is involved in a car accident with her grandmother and loses her sight and they say it could take 100 days for her sight to return. Her whole world is overturned as she fears she may never see again. Her Grandparents, desperate to try to help her get back to her passions in life - blogging her poetry put an ad in the local paper hoping to find a girl of around her age (16 years old) to help her return to poetry and in so doing life. However, Weston Ludovico spots this ad in the newspaper and the story follows on from here.

At first I felt completely connected to this story and Tessa. You feel for her as she struggles with PTSD from the crash with night terrors that were an honest representation. Having not been a character who enjoyed the outdoors and going out in general she hides away in her bedroom frightened of the present, past and future. When Weston comes along he is completely the opposite and confident, positive and bubbly! She really grapples with the ad her grandparents listed and doesn’t want him there. Weston was drawn to this ad because of disability within his life though I won’t go into detail here because it would be a spoiler.

I liked the format at first. We get Tessa and Weston chapters. Tessa’s chapters are the number of days she has been without her sight. Weston’s chapters are present time and flashbacks to the past. There are five parts to this story titled with the 5 senses which I thought was interesting.

I found the flashback for Weston to be the most engaging as I feel this will help others and reminds us how important our bodies are.

Unfortunately I started to slowly lose connection with this book. I think the plot might have been the reason as it was clear what was going to happen. There is a lot of disability representation which I appreciate but there seemed to be something missing. I don’t mind when the plot is predictable but I’ve fully connected with the characters but I sadly couldn’t connect to them and started to disconnect. The elements were here but for me they just didn’t come together. I have read a lot of books that have a similar plot line and was hoping for more.

Trigger warnings - PTSD, depression, grief, taking medication without doctors approval and medical harm.

100 Days of Sunlight is a book I devoured! The writing was lovely and spun a story of hope and love.

The narrator, Tessa, is a character I can instantly relate to. While we don't have similar issues, she's a book blogger who deeply loves her friends. The reliance on her friend group that plays a role within the story is a delightful one; as someone constantly involved in the online book community, reading about a girl who loves her online friends is a rarity, and I am so happy to see it within 100 Days of Sunlight.

Weston is such a sweetheart! He was my favorite of the two (sorry, Tessa!) and I loved his optimistic views and refusal to give up on Tessa. His point of view had me crying in some parts and laughing in others. The two characters bounced off of each other wonderfully, and their interactions felt incredibly real as if I might walk into a coffee store and overhear them!

There was one part that made me uncomfortable, when Weston says, "She makes me feel like a whole person again." The idea that you need someone else to feel whole is a little tricky, especially when the character who says this is an amputee. Though I am part of the chronic illness world, I am not disabled, so I feel that this book needs to be in the hands of those readers to accurately judge if it's a problem or not.

There also seemed to be a small "not like other girls" complex, but it was small and only brought up once, so I didn't see it as too much of an issue.

It is easy to see how much love for books was poured into the making of this novel. Abbie Emmons is an authortuber/booktuber who knows what it's like to have your life revolve around books. From mentions of Tessa's rainbow shelves to feeling like the bookstore is a second home, I loved the little references into a book bloggers life.

100 Days of Sunlight is a beautiful novel, full of hope, optimism, and the power of believing in one another. Abbie Emmons wrote a delightful book, and I can't wait to see what she does next!

THOUGHTS
... it took me so long to try and write this review ... my thoughts are such a mess. This beautiful novel has made in nearly impossible to put my thoughts into coherent words. Uplifting, inspiration, motivation ... Emmons' debut novel reminds me of those beautiful classics but with more relevant references and no prejudice or discrimination (sorry, classics ... but it's true). For my first NetGalley novel in about a year, Emmons has set the standards high.

This is a partial review, highlighting key points of my original; this is due to my original review being longer and more in-depth. For full review, please visit Bookmark Your Thoughts through the link below.

THE PROS
- The writing style of this novel is reason alone to read it --- it's absolutely lovely! Emmons balances the use of prose and poetry, making the reader FEEL the emotions of each character as though it's them in the situation. The different point of views are also carefully crafted, showing the difference in Tessa and Weston's characters.

- Blatantly and un-apologetically, Emmons displays the social stigmas towards those with disabilities while also educating readers. She illustrates how this discrimination is shown both with good intentions and in a negative light, emphasizing the need for society to educate themselves regarding how the world views those with disabilities. Through Weston and Tessa's character development and growth, Emmons highlights the most beautiful message: "There's nothing you can't do."

- In a well-balanced manner, Emmons portrays a number of diverse elements to this grand novel such as main characters with disabilities and different beliefs/ideologies. As someone who's unsure of her own belief system, I was nervous going into this novel. But Emmons not only discusses all these tastefully, but she doesn't try to SWAY readers to believe a certain way. They're simply elements to these characters, showing that people who have differentiating beliefs can still get along with one another.

- Though heart-wrenching and an emotional rollercoaster, 100 Days of Sunlight provides a positive message for all those struggling. Emmons manages to provide a balance of saying it's okay to be frustrated and sad, while still empowering readers to take control of their lives. Because at the end of the day, we are responsible for creating our own happiness.

- The tie to a life of a blogger was a wonderful treat, making this novel feel close to home. I've never read a novel with this element, but OH MY WAS IT FANTASTIC! The close connections Tessa has made reminds me of my own in the blogging community. And the support they show her during this difficult time reflects our community so much.

THE WOES
- The beginning of the novel is perfection, but I would've liked more background knowledge of Tessa's character. The one thing I would've enjoyed is a back-flash chapter (or half of a chapter) of 'a-day-in-the-life-of-Tessa'. in order to compare pre- and post- accident Tessa.

- I honestly don't know how I feel about the ending of the novel. On the one end, the simplicity is something to admire and it's rather beautiful. On the other hand, it felt rather abrupt and unfinished. I wasn't left fully satisfied, wanting a few more pages to close things off.

- Weston and Tessa are lovely ... but the insta-love? For a person who's anti insta-love, it's not too bad --- it did feel rather gradual ... but to be in-love in a couple of months? It just seemed too sudden. However, this is ONE person's opinion on the matter and I feel it's a more biased opinion than normal --- so please keep this in mind.

OVERALL

100 Days of Sunlight is a novel that I TRULY believe everyone should read --- it's powerful, uplifting and doesn't hold back. Following Tessa and Weston's journey to self-acceptance and happiness has been grand, illustrating how to take charge of one's fulfillment in life even when you feel the world's against you. Weston is also a WONDERFUL role-model for any age demographic --- he doesn't let fear control his life and he finds ways to love life no matter the circumstances. This novel is a true work of art. Emmons even remembers to pay attention to the times, showing the use of relevant technology to show how society as progressed for those with physical disabilities. For those who need an inspirational read, make sure to pick up your own copy!

Alrighty, let's start with my general thoughts on this book. It's written so amazingly realistically that I was agreeing with how the characters handled things. I was pleasantly surprised by reacting to everything the same way Tessa handled losing her sight and her ability to do everything by herself.
Also, this isn't just Tessa's story. You read about how Weston lost his legs, and how he came to have his amazingly optimistic demeanor. He never backs down, he doesn't give up on Tessa, all because he knows exactly what she's going through.

I love this book so much, it might just become one of my 2019 favorites. Abbie has managed to write a book on disabilities, permanent and temporary, that made me understand what these people go through a little bit better. Because of this, I started thinking about all the books I read and I think that this is the only book I read with protagonists with disabilities. Why aren't there more authors who write about this? I think it's pretty freaking important to teach "normal" people what these people are going through.

Alright, that went deep very fast. Let's discuss our characters for a second. Tessa isn't like all the other YA characters. They're often headstrong, they know exactly what they want, but Tessa is different. All she wants is her sight back. She wants to be able to do things by herself again. And it scares her that she can't, that she has to rely on other people to live for those 100 days. She has pulled up a wall of anger to mask that she's actually scared and screams at Weston when he appears in her room suddenly. But Weston gradually takes those walls down, and discovers that Tessa is actually very kind, a huge introvert (as we all are). She is a little uncomfortable with Weston taking her out of her comfort zone to do things like going to a theme park when she can't see. But once she starts to trust Weston (and convinces herself that she actually likes him), she's all to happy to go out with him.

Weston is such a teddybear and when I finished reading this book my first thought was "Where can I get myself a guy like Weston?" He is determined to show Tessa the world by getting her to use her other senses. He starts by brining her flowers, then he takes her to the park and eventually they go to the theme park. Weston is such a strong character. Not just because of his presence, but because of what he went through to become the "obnoxiously optimistic" guy that wants to help Tessa.

You read about how he lost his legs, and how he deals with that. He has the best motivational quotes and they have made me so enthusiastic to get off my ass more often and get myself out of my comfort zone. Weston does nothing but support Tessa through the rough time, but he can't get it into his head that she might also like him when she discovers that he actually doesn't have his legs.

During the 100 days, Weston and Tessa take polaroids when they go out. Weston has taken some sneaky pictures of Tessa he looks at when he's realizing that he's falling in love, but he gives the rest of them to Tessa. She discovers them when she has her sight back and she finally discovers what Weston looks like. It's such an incredibly cute concept that I'm really happy that Abbie decided to add in something simple like this, because in my opinion it adds so much to the story!

So. Overall, this book will make you smile, it might make you cry, and it has amazing representation. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy books by Morgan Matson, Jenny Han and Becky Albertalli. The writing style is very comfortable and it reads pretty fast. What I liked most, is that you don't read about Tessa right after the accident happened. The book starts on day 21 after the accident and every new chapter announces how many days have passed.

This is a well written book that is a quick read. It is a beautiful story full of love and emotions. Thank you Abbie Emmons via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

*Thank you so so much NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read the arc of “100 Days Of Sunlight” in exchange for a honest review!* where do I even begin?? 100 Days Of Sunlight is about a girl named Tessa whose world was turned upside down due to a car accident that took her eyesight, even if just temporary it, indeed, sucks. Ahhh but then there’s Weston, my dear Weston, I want a Weston of my own. Weston comes in Tessa’s life and he doesn’t take no for an answer, he is going to help her SEE that there’s more to the world than just sight. I must admit that Tessa was being a little too rude when all her grandparents wanted was to help her BUT I can only imagine the frustration it must be to have something like sight taken way from you all of the sudden, so she obviously gets a pass for being a brat and she does get nicer as the story goes on. I love every little thing about this book to be completely honest, the only thing negative I have to say it’s the reference to “messy buns” that just scream fanfiction to me as I was an avid fanfiction reader back in my pre teen years. 100 Days of Sunlight talks about much more than just two teens who fall in love, I loved how close Weston and his brothers were and how Tessa’s lovely grandparents treated her just like a daughter and she never felt unloved. The friendship between Rudi and Weston was amazingly written and it portraits really well how boys can and should show their emotions too. Overall great book and I can’t stress this enough. WESTON.

You know those books that capture your attention in the first few pages? The books you read and think to yourself "This is exactly what I needed right now." The kind of books that hit you so hard that they could knock you out of any reading slump?

I haven't had a book take hold of me so strongly since I first discovered my love for Nina LaCour books.

100 Days of Sunlight hooked me from the beginning.

Abbie Emmons has a way of creating characters so real that you want to root for them even if they are making you mad. Her poetic descriptions make you want to close your eyes & picture the atmosphere the way Tessa is experiencing it.

This debut is breathtaking and I can't wait to see what this author has up her sleeve next.

Abbie Emmons's debut novel, 100 Days of Sunlight, is a charming love story between two teenagers: a temporarily blind girl and a boy with no legs. After Tessa becomes temporarily blind after a car crash, Weston begins to help her write poetry for her blog, not telling her that he doesn't have legs. But he can understand her disability like no one can, and their relationship grows from its rocky beginning. At the heart of this book, these two teenagers are figuring out how to love themselves, trust each other, and overcome their fears.

I love the idea of this book. The premise caught my eye, even if the plot was a bit predictable. The book started off pretty rocky for me though. I couldn't connect to the characters because they didn't seem believable--Weston was too happy and Tessa was too annoyingly mean. There were also pages of unnecessary dialogue and exposition that didn't move the plot along, so that was hard to muddle through. But by the middle of the book, the characters had changed enough that I was interested in finishing (even if the ending was a bit predictable, as I mentioned before).

If I had to choose a couple words to describe this book, it would be cute, slow moving, predictable, and conventional. Is it worth reading? I would say yes to those who live for contemporary.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3
Plot/Movement: 3
Character Development: 3.5
Overall: 3

3.5* To start with I wasn't really into the writing style in this book, as it came across very young and the characters- especially Tessa- seemed quite superficial. But it was an easy read so I stuck with it and it definitely grew on me. I didn't love Tessa to begin with, she didn't really read as 16 to me- mentioning 'boy germs' and just acting quite childish- but she did develop more and become a bit less irritating as the story progressed. I really didn't like the poems that were included, I thought they brought the writing down a bit as they just weren't strong poems to me (but I'm really not a fan of most of the 'instagram' kind of poetry that's popular lately, and Tessa's character is a blogger so it does make sense). I also skimmed the churchey stuff coz that's not my thing, but it wasn't overwhelming religious so I was still able to get into the story and Tessa's recovery journey. I did really like Weston's story, and found him a lot more fleshed out as a character, especially as the secondary characters supporting him were also quite strong (his friends and brothers). All in all it isn't going to go on my favourites list but it was a cute contemporary romance that I did end up quite enjoying, especially as I've read a few pretty heavy books recently. So, I'd recommend if you're looking for a sweet YA read. Also the coverage art is gorgeous!

Abbie Emmons is a skilled writer and manages to create a fun read. This was okay for a debut novel, but there is work to be done that can only be learned through time and practice! Overall, I loved the characters. They really drove the story and kept the plot moving. I didn’t particullary like some of the elements of styled that were being used, but that’s just from my personal preference. Nonetheless, I look forward to reviewing future books from Emmons!

Tessa is reeling after a car accident leaves her with transient cortical blindness when she meets a stranger who wants to help her. Weston has suffered a loss of his own and continues to show up for Tessa every day, helping her overcome her fears and insecurities.

This is a sweet book about loss, friendship, healing and love between two teenagers who have had a rough go of things. This was a quick read with sweet characters. I loved the innocence and depth of their relationship. I was rooting for them throughout!

I absolutely loved this book. It was everything I needed in a book: lovable characters, swoon-worthy romance and an uplifting message. I fell in love with the characters instantly and, particularly Weston, was so inspiring and empowering. I really appreciated the representation of those with disabilities and I think it added lovely depth to the book.
But, despite the often heavy subjects, this story was still fun, light and lovely to fall into. For a debut novel, this was amazing and I can't wait to read more of Abbie Emmons' work in the future!

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

The first thing that caught my attention with 100 Days of Sunlight was the beautiful cover. The yellow. The pictures. Before I knew what the book was about I had decided I wanted to read the book. Yes. I judged a book by it’s cover. Once I actually read the synopsis, I wanted to read this book even more so. Now 2 days later, I sit here wishing the book had more to it as I wasn’t ready for it to end.

I very much enjoyed this book. I love how the author gave us insight to both of the main characters, Tessa and Weston. You get to experience both of their journeys to overcome their personal obstacles. There is more to life that what we SEE. The author dedicates a section to each of the other senses, showing more than the visual beauty in the world. People get so caught up in their lives they take for granted each of the senses we have. They are each amazing in their own way and Abbie Emmons helps remind us of that.

I hope those of you that choose to read 100 Days of Sunlight enjoy it as much as I did!

I can not begin to tell you how much joy this book gave me! Not only does Abbie Emmons tell a beautiful story of two people who needed each other she takes you on a journey with them. As I was reading this book I felt like I was a part of it! Every part of this book made me feel a little something as I read it.

100 Days Of Sunlight is a feel-great book and one that I am going to remember reading for a long time!

Tessa Dickinson is a home-schooled, 16-yr old poetry blogger who lives with her grandparents. She has no friends, except for her blogging community friends who she group-chats with. When Tessa loses her eye-sight in an accident, she becomes miserable and angry and is no longer the same person she was before. In an attempt to cheer her up, her grandparents decide to run a advertisement looking for help - a typist - someone of Tessa's age to write in her blog while she dictates. Enter Weston Ludovico, son of the newspaper where the ad is about to be printed. He decides to help Tessa even though she refuses it and shuts the door in his face. He loves how he is poorly treated by Tessa not because he is some sick psycho but because he lost his legs three years ago and is tired of people treating him differently. The book describes 100 days of Tessa's life where she is temporarily blind and how her pessimistic self changes over the period.

When I first began with this book I thought why was Tessa's character written this way - so pessimistic, so cold and inconsiderate about actual visually impaired people who might be reading it. But let me tell you, this book has been written through the point of view of Tessa, who is recently blind, is unable to accept it and is rightfully angry about it. And there's a whole lot of sunshine and positive aspects that come up later in the book that makes the initial whining acceptable and realistic.

Weston's story was sooo good, so so good. I loved how the alternating POV's were used, from Weston's past and Tessa's present. I fell in love with how reckless he is initially showed and how he doesn't quit and grows through his pain and does not allow the amputation to stump his life. Instead of using all of it to Tessa and giving a TedX talk to her, he gradually shows her there's so much to life, so much more to experience and I totally loved how obnoxiously optimistic he is. And Weston's family ? God!! I loved every sibling of his and his mother, his best friend Rudy. They aren't just secondary characters and I loved how Abbie Emmons has given importance to every one of them.

This isn't your Insta-love story, because Tessa can't see and Weston isn't there to fall in love with her (initially..) but to help her cope up. This isn't about absent parents, prom dates, drugs or college applications. This is about finding light in the darkness and accepting yourself. This is a heartbreaking-uplifting kinda book that balances out romance, grief, friendship, family and happiness altogether.

"You're not your asthma," I continued "or your diabetes or you depression or your anorexia or your social anxiety. You see, most people would look at me and say that I have every right to be miserable. But I don't. I have no right. And neither do you."

Obviously, a 5 star read for me, considering it's a debut that is so beautifully written.

What an amazinggg story. I absolutely loved the premise of this plot and this feels like the cousin novel to Me Before You but unique in its own ways.

I have only recently gotten insight into the world of blindness by following Molly Burke’s story on youtube and if any of you want to learn more about blindness as a disability and the understand a little more of what blind people have to go through you should definitely check out her channel! Though Tessa is only temporarily blind, her journey is emotional and allows the reader to understand just a fraction of the frustration.

There is everything you need in contemporary: romance, interesting characters, a beautiful plot, and emotions galore. I can also picture how this book could be turned into a gorgeous movie as well! (So hurry up and pick up a copy so you can say you read it before it became famous!)

Oh what a light and unforgettable read this was! The story is unique with amazing characters which are developed beautifully. Readers of Eleanor & Park will enjoy this one.

If one word is used to describe this book, it has to be optimism. Home-schooled Tessa is temporarily blinded following a car accident. The church plays a big role in Tessa's life and is her main area of physical social interaction, but she's isolated herself and fallen into a depressive state.
Weston is hired to help her update her poetry blog and slowly uses his time to introduce her to everything that life still has to offer Tessa.
Tessa and Weston are complete opposites in lifestyle, family, attitude, outlook and behaviour, but somehow, they click.
Weston knows about despair and he has a strength of character that will leave you awestruck. I don't know if his background that helped him - he had to be strong for his brothers - or if it was just his wilful and upbeat nature. Perhaps it was a combination of the two, but it supported him through the most harrowing of times.
The story drip feeds Weston's history to give us a taste of the boy behind the philosophy. It grated at first as I wanted the book to be about Tessa. I thought it was going to be about Tessa. But actually, it was more about Weston and the influence of a positive attitude.
The romance is slow and sweet.