Some books defy classification. They have aspects of different genres, making them difficult to pigeonhole. The Sunshine Girls by Molly Fader is one of those. If pressed, I would have to say it is women’s fiction. Although there is some historical fiction to it as well. And mystery.
See what I mean?
Clara and Abbie are mourning the death of their mom, Betty Kay when famous movie star Kitty shows up at the funeral. Clara and Abbie had no idea their mom knew Kitty, and they come to realize that Betty Kay had several secrets. As does Kitty.
I don’t want to give anything away – because discovering the backstory and history of the characters is part of the charm of this book – but suffice it to say that Kitty and Betty Kay go waaaay back.
(To be honest, the blurb gives that part away – but I didn’t want to).
At any rate, Clara and Abbie realize they didn’t really know their mom as well as they thought. It’s actually thought-provoking because by the time we realize our parents had lives before us, it’s sometimes too late to ask them about it.
In our minds, as kids and even as adults, our parents are fully formed when we appear. There’s rarely a thought to events that may have shaped them. I felt that deeply from this book.
Time is nebulous in this book. The chapters switch back and forth between the past – how Betty Kay’s and Kitty’s friendship developed over time – and the present, as the girls try to determine the truth of some family secrets. Does Kitty hold the key to those secrets?
You’ll have to read The Sunshine Girls to find out.
The book moves at a good pace and stays on an even keel. It seamlessly switches back and forth between past and present; it’s never abrupt. And both timelines are equally fascinating (although the historical one is just a little more so).
The author also takes the rose-colored glasses off about social issues and addresses them with sensitivity and care. They serve as reminders that we didn’t start the fire, and some problems have plagued society for decades.
Most of all, the message from the book is that life events shape us but never have to define us. We have the power to reinvent ourselves at any point – we just need the strength and support system to help us make ourselves the best people we can be.
Molly Fader has a real winner in The Sunshine Girls. It’s women’s fiction that shouldn’t be missed.
