ncolflesh's review
5.0
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of "100 Days of Sunlight" in exchange for publishing an honest review.
100 Days of Sunlight is about young poet Tessa Dickinson who has temporarily lost her eyesight. After her grandparents put out an ad in the paper looking to hire a typist for Tessa to continue her blog, annoyingly optimistic Weston Ludovico shows up at her door. Despite telling him to never come back, he shows up again. And again. And again.
Plot
The plot of this novel was satisfying, to say the least. It's a hate to love teen romance that's clean and innocent yet reflects reality.
The relationship that develops between Tessa and Weston is pure and simply another thread one of the many threads that run through the book. It's so much more than a romance - because the central focus of the book is to talk about how when Life kicks you down, you are the one who gets to choose whether you stay there and get beat up by it, or you stand up and fight back.
Abbie really enforces that each one of us is faced with a choice - the easy path of least resistance or the hard path of conquering what's got you down. Then she shows her readers the outcomes of these choices.
Characters
With each chapter, the book switches between the perspectives of Tessa and Weston. It's fun to know what these characters think about each other while watching them struggle individually with their own limited perspectives. How dense they are added to the spice of the story.
Being a writer, Tessa has a beautiful way with words. A fire burns within her, fueling her passion and stubbornness. We meet her at her lowest state, just a few weeks after the accident. Her personal journey is to cope with this loss of a sense (senses play a huge role in this book). Will she continue to let her new disability control what she does and how she lives?
And then there's Weston. He's a complete 180 from Tess. He radiates positivity. He's like sunshine personified. Pretty much everything he says is with a smile and I hear he has really nice freckles (man I'm a sucker for freckles). Somehow (well, due to backstory), he knows exactly what Tessa needs to get back up on her feet. Unsurprisingly, she doesn't warm up to him when he tries to help.
There are other side characters as well, like Tessa's adorable grandparents and Weston's crazy adorable family. Though some play bigger parts than others, all of them come off the page and it feels like you're getting a glimpse at real people. I also absolutely love that Tessa's online friends are included in this story (and I'm going to take a guess here and say they happen to represent some of the important people in Abbie's life).
Writing style
This was an easy read - both due to the nature of the book and the writing style. Abbie's writing is something you can gobble up. It's very descriptive in that you feel like you are watching the scenes play out (or better yet, living them out as the characters themselves).
She also greatly utilizes the senses, especially when describing how things played out in Tessa's perspective. The flow wasn't unnatural or vehemently "and then I heard" type writing that stressed how much Tessa couldn't see. It flowed and instead capitalized on what she could sense instead. That greatly impressed me.
Creativity
While this book contains elements that make it similar to other fluffy, easy read (both of these are compliments) contemporaries, Abbie puts enough of a spin on it that the story feels like something entirely new. Her characters, the writing style, and the plot all work together to make 100 Days of Sunlight what it is.
Aesthetic
Yellow, sunshiney warmth accompanied by the wafting scent of buttery waffles.
The best aesthetic if you ask me. ;) There's something about this novel that breathes light...
Pace
This book takes place in (roughly) a hundred day time period. However, the set up isn't too slow and there's just enough action, backstory, and oomph to push it along nicely.
There wasn't any point where I was like "man, when is something going to happen?" so I would say everything moved along quite nicely.
Cover
I DIE every time I look at the cover! I mean just look at it! Everything about it screams awesomeness and aligns with the aesthetic of the book quite perfectly. :)
Overall
I rate this book 5 million stars and recommend it to anyone and everyone - especially those who enjoy that warm fuzzy feeling after you read a satisfying ending.
100 Days of Sunlight is about young poet Tessa Dickinson who has temporarily lost her eyesight. After her grandparents put out an ad in the paper looking to hire a typist for Tessa to continue her blog, annoyingly optimistic Weston Ludovico shows up at her door. Despite telling him to never come back, he shows up again. And again. And again.
Plot
The plot of this novel was satisfying, to say the least. It's a hate to love teen romance that's clean and innocent yet reflects reality.
The relationship that develops between Tessa and Weston is pure and simply another thread one of the many threads that run through the book. It's so much more than a romance - because the central focus of the book is to talk about how when Life kicks you down, you are the one who gets to choose whether you stay there and get beat up by it, or you stand up and fight back.
Abbie really enforces that each one of us is faced with a choice - the easy path of least resistance or the hard path of conquering what's got you down. Then she shows her readers the outcomes of these choices.
Characters
With each chapter, the book switches between the perspectives of Tessa and Weston. It's fun to know what these characters think about each other while watching them struggle individually with their own limited perspectives. How dense they are added to the spice of the story.
Being a writer, Tessa has a beautiful way with words. A fire burns within her, fueling her passion and stubbornness. We meet her at her lowest state, just a few weeks after the accident. Her personal journey is to cope with this loss of a sense (senses play a huge role in this book). Will she continue to let her new disability control what she does and how she lives?
And then there's Weston. He's a complete 180 from Tess. He radiates positivity. He's like sunshine personified. Pretty much everything he says is with a smile and I hear he has really nice freckles (man I'm a sucker for freckles). Somehow (well, due to backstory), he knows exactly what Tessa needs to get back up on her feet. Unsurprisingly, she doesn't warm up to him when he tries to help.
There are other side characters as well, like Tessa's adorable grandparents and Weston's crazy adorable family. Though some play bigger parts than others, all of them come off the page and it feels like you're getting a glimpse at real people. I also absolutely love that Tessa's online friends are included in this story (and I'm going to take a guess here and say they happen to represent some of the important people in Abbie's life).
Writing style
This was an easy read - both due to the nature of the book and the writing style. Abbie's writing is something you can gobble up. It's very descriptive in that you feel like you are watching the scenes play out (or better yet, living them out as the characters themselves).
She also greatly utilizes the senses, especially when describing how things played out in Tessa's perspective. The flow wasn't unnatural or vehemently "and then I heard" type writing that stressed how much Tessa couldn't see. It flowed and instead capitalized on what she could sense instead. That greatly impressed me.
Creativity
While this book contains elements that make it similar to other fluffy, easy read (both of these are compliments) contemporaries, Abbie puts enough of a spin on it that the story feels like something entirely new. Her characters, the writing style, and the plot all work together to make 100 Days of Sunlight what it is.
Aesthetic
Yellow, sunshiney warmth accompanied by the wafting scent of buttery waffles.
The best aesthetic if you ask me. ;) There's something about this novel that breathes light...
Pace
This book takes place in (roughly) a hundred day time period. However, the set up isn't too slow and there's just enough action, backstory, and oomph to push it along nicely.
There wasn't any point where I was like "man, when is something going to happen?" so I would say everything moved along quite nicely.
Cover
I DIE every time I look at the cover! I mean just look at it! Everything about it screams awesomeness and aligns with the aesthetic of the book quite perfectly. :)
Overall
I rate this book 5 million stars and recommend it to anyone and everyone - especially those who enjoy that warm fuzzy feeling after you read a satisfying ending.
nethra's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I love this book so much! By far my favorite book this month, and I can't wait to read the next book! Tessa and Weston are the cutest people ever!
maddie_hollar's review
5.0
Simply amazing. Made me think of my own struggles I’ve gone through, and times I’ve had to choose the harder road, the optimistic road, and also remember times when I chose the Despair path. Such a touching story full of hope. I read it in just two days (could definitely have done it in one if not for late night finishing of another book last night!) This book is one of my new favorites and I can’t wait to get the second. I’m holding off, though, because I have so many others to read.
anthonylwolf's review
4.0
I found Abbie by pure chance while looking for writing advice on the web, and I decided I would try and join her ARC team to show her my support. I don't think I'll ever regret it.
I should probably start by saying that 100 Days of Sunlight is quite far from what I would consider my genre and my niche—which is why I was surprised to enjoy it so much. But I guess the author is to thank for that: there is much of Abbie in her book, from coloured bookshelves to tasty waffles. Her spirit jumps all around the prose and breathes life into it. This leads to beautiful characters, such as Tessa and her grandparents, Weston and Rudy. It also leads to characters which feel human. And this is definitely the best aspect of 100 Days of Sunlight.
Abbie's book is about Tessa, a teenage girl who becomes temporarily blind due to a car accident. Following this event, Tessa will fall into her own abyss of darkness and self-loathing. Fortunate circumstances will make her cross paths with Weston, a reckless and stubborn boy who has lost his legs and is forced to walk on a pair of prosthesis. Weston will teach her love, beauty, and how to appreciate little things again, in a lovely scenario which sets the ground for an uplifting YA romance..
I loved 100 Days of Sunlight. It was a constant page-turner, thanks to Abbie's incredible storytelling skills. "Then why 4 stars?", you might ask. Because 100 Days of Sunlight, as heartwarming as it is, is far from flawless.
Abbie's style is so simple it helps the story stand out, but at the same time it might be off-putting for some readers, and it occasionally leads to redundant or repetitive statements in the prose. Her characters are all beautiful, but they somewhat lack their own, unique voice; and the structure focuses a lot—perhaps too much—on Weston and his past, at times diluting the plot and slowing the pace of the main story.
But there is ground for improvement. None of this is a major issue, at the end of the day. Despite these little, negligible flaws, Abbie’s book is still enjoyable, fun, entertaining and as heartbreaking as it can be. It made me shudder, sigh, shiver, hope, feel. Which is all a debut novel can really ask for.
In a nutshell, 100 Days of Sunlight is an uplifting journey about love, family, falling down below the ground and learning to rise again. It is all I was expecting from Abbie, and perhaps a little bit more. If you love YA and romance (and I definitely don't), you should give it a chance. And if you don't, do it anyway just as I did. Either way, it will be a journey worth embarking on.
This is just a glimpse of my opinion on the book, anyway—you can read my full review of Abbie's novel on my website! If you want to know more, check it out at http://anthonywolfwriter.com/100-days-of-sunlight-book-review/.
I should probably start by saying that 100 Days of Sunlight is quite far from what I would consider my genre and my niche—which is why I was surprised to enjoy it so much. But I guess the author is to thank for that: there is much of Abbie in her book, from coloured bookshelves to tasty waffles. Her spirit jumps all around the prose and breathes life into it. This leads to beautiful characters, such as Tessa and her grandparents, Weston and Rudy. It also leads to characters which feel human. And this is definitely the best aspect of 100 Days of Sunlight.
Abbie's book is about Tessa, a teenage girl who becomes temporarily blind due to a car accident. Following this event, Tessa will fall into her own abyss of darkness and self-loathing. Fortunate circumstances will make her cross paths with Weston, a reckless and stubborn boy who has lost his legs and is forced to walk on a pair of prosthesis. Weston will teach her love, beauty, and how to appreciate little things again, in a lovely scenario which sets the ground for an uplifting YA romance..
I loved 100 Days of Sunlight. It was a constant page-turner, thanks to Abbie's incredible storytelling skills. "Then why 4 stars?", you might ask. Because 100 Days of Sunlight, as heartwarming as it is, is far from flawless.
Abbie's style is so simple it helps the story stand out, but at the same time it might be off-putting for some readers, and it occasionally leads to redundant or repetitive statements in the prose. Her characters are all beautiful, but they somewhat lack their own, unique voice; and the structure focuses a lot—perhaps too much—on Weston and his past, at times diluting the plot and slowing the pace of the main story.
But there is ground for improvement. None of this is a major issue, at the end of the day. Despite these little, negligible flaws, Abbie’s book is still enjoyable, fun, entertaining and as heartbreaking as it can be. It made me shudder, sigh, shiver, hope, feel. Which is all a debut novel can really ask for.
In a nutshell, 100 Days of Sunlight is an uplifting journey about love, family, falling down below the ground and learning to rise again. It is all I was expecting from Abbie, and perhaps a little bit more. If you love YA and romance (and I definitely don't), you should give it a chance. And if you don't, do it anyway just as I did. Either way, it will be a journey worth embarking on.
This is just a glimpse of my opinion on the book, anyway—you can read my full review of Abbie's novel on my website! If you want to know more, check it out at http://anthonywolfwriter.com/100-days-of-sunlight-book-review/.
jackie_beyondthebookends's review
5.0
I absolutely adored this YA romance. It is wholesome and totally appropriate for a younger audience but sweet and fun for adults as well. Perfect for fans of The Sun is Also a Star and To All The Boys I’ve Loves Before, this love story looks at one happens when you can no longer depend on sight. Even though you will guess the ending of the book, it is well written and I became emotional while reading it. It’s a perfect book to sit and binge read.
sebsie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
gabriella_batel_author's review
3.0
A sweet, happy romance that I didn't mind getting behind (which is a feat to someone like me who has a hard time with romance!). Quite relaxing and uplifting. There were moments with the style and some of the characters' actions that weren't what I wanted in my mind, but I'm grateful for the nuance and heart-warmth of this story.
Full review on YouTube! https://youtu.be/BtUNSLqWnFU
Full review on YouTube! https://youtu.be/BtUNSLqWnFU
rhythmofryn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
craftyanty's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
blankpageben's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Absolutely incredible book. Abbie is such an amazing character writer they had such rich histories and actually acted based on their experiences
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence and Sexual harassment