Title: Sunrise on Half Moon Bay by Robyn Carr
Publisher: Mira
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Sometimes the happiness we’re looking for has been there all along…
Adele and Justine have never been close. Born twenty years apart, Justine was already an adult when Addie was born. The sisters love each other but they don’t really know each other.
When Addie dropped out of university to care for their ailing parents, Justine, a successful lawyer, covered the expenses. It was the best arrangement at the time but now that their parents are gone, the future has changed dramatically for both women.
Addie had great plans for her life but has been worn down by the pressures of being a caregiver and doesn’t know how to live for herself. And Justine’s success has come at a price. Her marriage is falling apart despite her best efforts.
Neither woman knows how to start life over but both realize they can and must support each other the way only sisters can. Together they find the strength to accept their failures and overcome their challenges. Happiness is within reach, if only they have the courage to fight for it.
Set in the stunning coastal town of Half Moon Bay, California, Robyn Carr’s new novel examines the joys of sisterhood and the importance of embracing change.
Review:
Sunrise on Half Moon Bay by Robyn Carr is a delightful novel of healing and new beginnings.
Thirty two year old Adele “Addie” Descaro is struggling to restart her life after caring for her elderly parents for eight years. She moved back home before finishing her master’s program and she is at loss while trying to figure out a new career path. Making a decision becomes imperative when her fifty-two year old sister Justine Somersby informs her she might not be able to continue helping Adele financially.
Justine is a lawyer who works long hours to support her husband Scott and their teenage daughters, Amber and Olivia. She also does more than her fair share of the work around the house as Scott works part-time and participates in multiple sports. After making a shocking discovery, Justine makes many changes in her life that bring her and Adele surprisingly closer.
Over the years, Adele has given up spending time with anyone except for her family and close friend Jake Bronski. She has also never quite recovered from a broken heart and tragic loss that occurred at the same time she moved home to care for her parents. Adele is uncertain about how to jumpstart her career while also fixing up the family home. Finally motivated to make some positive changes, she is soon putting her plans in motion for her future. But Adele is a little surprised to find that making professional decisions is much easier than taking charge of her personal life.
Justine is decisive and no nonsense as she makes plans for her future. Surprisingly resilient in spite of painful circumstances, she is undergoing a period of discovery during a difficult time. Despite the unexpected changes, Justine grows more confident as the months pass.
With both sisters undergoing many changes, Justine and Adele welcome a newfound closeness between them. Addie embraces the opportunity to strengthen her bonds with her nieces and sister. But she struggles a little with the choices she needs to make and she is a bit disconcerted when her relationship with Jake grows a little strained. When Addie’s past collides with her present, will she finally gain the perspective she needs to move forward?
Sunrise on Half Moon Bay is a wonderful novel about overcoming adversity and starting over when life throws unexpected curves. Old and new fans of Robyn Carr are sure to enjoy this family-centric novel.
