The Hard Truth About Sunshine

By: Sawyer Bennett

Narrated by: Lance Greenfield

Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's Summary

New York Times best-selling author Sawyer Bennett has written her most gripping and poignant tale yet. Provocatively heart-breaking, audaciously irreverent and romantically fulfilling, The Hard Truth About Sunshine exposes just how very thin the line is between a full life and an empty existence.

An angry, bitter amputee.

An optimist losing her eyesight.

A dying kid.

A suicidal thief.

Four people with nothing in common but their destination.

Despite having narrowly escaped death's clutches, Christopher Barlow is grateful for nothing. His capacity to love has been crushed. He hates everyone and everything, completely unable to see past the gray stain of misery that coats his perception of the world. It's only after he involuntarily joins a band of depressed misfits who are struggling to overcome their own problems, does Christopher start to re-evaluate his lot in life.

What could they possibly learn from one another? How could they possibly help each other to heal? And the question that Christopher asks himself over and over again...can he learn to love again?

He's about to find out as he embarks upon a cross country trip with a beautiful woman who is going blind, a boy with terminal cancer, and an abuse victim who can't decide whether she wants to live or die.

They will encounter adventure, thrills, loss, and love.

And within their travels they will learn the greatest lesson of all.

The hard truth about sunshine...

Warning: This book deals with some tough issues including suicide and sexual abuse.

©2017 Sawyer Bennett (P)2017 Sawyer Bennett

Great Emotional Story!

This book was nothing like any other Sawyer Bennett book I've listened to! It was such an emotional story line and the characters were all very strong in their own ways. This book is about 4 VERY different people with very different issues taking a trip together, only they each find more than they expected along the way. I giggled, I was sad, I was mad, I was happy.... Yes this hit a lot of emotions!! I loved that each character has their own issues that the others could never really understand completely but they tried and with that they found exactly what they needed in each other. This book touches on everything from depression, illness, PTSD, Loss & so much more. Great story!

With all that I loved about this book I have to say the narration was not one of them. I love Lance Greenfield but I didn't feel he was right for this book, especially since it was a solo narrated audiobook. He fit good for Christopher which was good because the story is told from his POV. But I had a very hard time liking & connecting with all the other characters because his voices & tones made them almost unlikable to me. I especially had a hard time with his female voices. I would have recommended dual narration or if going with a single narrator he needs to be able to pull off off the different ages for both male & female characters.

Love is Watching Someone Die

Would you listen to The Hard Truth About Sunshine again? Why?

Yes and no. Yes, because the story and message are powerful and emotionally engaging, but also no, because I don't know if my heart can take it! This is not a lighthearted or easy listen. Some parts will gut you and rip your heart out, but others will make you laugh and leave you feeling hopeful. Just be prepared to feel every emotion when you start this story!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Connor was my favorite because I felt that he was the most honest and brave of the group. He accepted (as much as a teenager could) what life had dealt him and tried to make the most of what life he had left to live. I loved how many things he was able to cross off his bucket list and how the group rallied around him.

What does Lance Greenfield bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

So much emotion and feeling! Reading the words is one thing, but Lance's narration made the grief and joy our characters experienced palpable. I thought his female voices were OK, but honestly, his voice is so deep that I don't think he could have performed them any better. His narration as Christopher, however, was so powerful and perfect.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Again, yes and no. I wanted to know what our band of travelers would do next and what adventures they would encounter, but I also couldn't handle it all emotionally at once. I needed time to process and understand what these characters were experiencing and going through.

Any additional comments?

When I finished this book, I kept hearing the song "What Sarah Said" by Death Cab for Cutie in my mind. One line in that song has always stuck out to me - "love is watching someone die, so who's gonna watch you die?"

Though a sad sentiment at first glance, I personally feel it's what it means to truly love someone. Standing with them through the pain, set backs, and heartbreak and ultimately as they say goodbye. Our characters experience this, but instead of letting the grief overwhelm them, they open their hearts and let themselves love and be loved in return. This was a truly emotional and powerful listen that I won't soon forget.

Good book but wrapped up too quickly

The dozens of strikeouts throughout this book were annoying as hell, er strike that, completely excessive. It was fine at first but started to get really obnoxious.
I enjoyed most of this book but feel that it fizzled out toward the end and wrapped up too quickly. I don't feel any closure or resolution, just more of an, 'oh that's it?, well okay then'.
Overall, I give The Hard Truth About Sunshine 3.5 stars.

Audible: The narrator did a good job. I didn't have any complaints. He was easy to listen to and had good distinction between characters.

Even Better with Sound!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this book to my book buddies, and have already done so. I found it to be so compelling and heart wrenching but also uplifting.

What other book might you compare The Hard Truth About Sunshine to and why?

I found this to be a different change of pace for a Sawyer Bennett book, but it was brilliant just like the rest. I think the feel of the book is like Finding Kyle that she wrote.

Have you listened to any of Lance Greenfield’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first book that I have listened to by Lance Greenfield, and I enjoyed his voice. I would positively do it again.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book had all the emotions going for me. I laughed at times, and was brought to tears with the stories each character told. There were subject matters here that will make you feel for this group.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoy reading a book that has a male POV. I enjoyed this book so much on the ebook format that when I decided to do a re read, I knew I had to go with audio. I feel it just makes it more rounded. I loved hearing what is inside Christopher's head and well as reading it.

Uplifting Story

This book made me understand my military brother more. I thought the themes of suffering, depression, anger, hurt, chronic illness and abuse were handled with extreme care and skill. This story touched my heart, and I plan to recommend it to many people. I also think the narrator was excellent. The acting was not overdone, and it was delivered very skillfully. I loved this audio experience all around.

Wow

It was hard to put this one down. 4 lives who need each other to overcome obstacles that no one else understands. I definately recommend this audio book. Beware foul language at the beginning and then it slowly changes into a beautiful story.

Great Book

The emotion in this book is phenomenal. You feel the characters personalities and emotions. The narrator did a great job. Very limited sexual references so could recommend to teens and up. Drug use, sexual trauma and mental health issues. -dink

Beautiful story

I was skeptical thinking it would be too sad. It was amazingly poignant and I loved it

Best Read of 2017

My favorite book of 2017. You will fall in love with the characters . The transformation of Chris Barlow is beautiful to read. I had a smile permanently etched on my face. Please read this book to make your heart sing. Highly recommend. The Audible narrator was wonderful making the story come alive.

Incredible

This was an incredible book. The performance by Lance Greenfield as narrator was fantastic, he really brought Christopher's character out. The dealt with some heavy topics but did so in a realistic manner. Using humor at times and cold truth in others. You really felt
The characters journey.