'One Summer Sunrise' by Shari Low is an uplifting story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. One thing I must say is I have never read any of Shari's work before but have heard so much about it. When this came up for tour I amazed myself by being interested after I read the synopsis. So here I am with my thoughts on the book.
The story takes place over one day and we follow the lives of four different people who are all brought together by a fundraising concert for a theatre group. Some of the characters don't seem to be connected but as the story unfolds the links become apparent. The first character we are introduced to is Maisie. She is 25 and is an actress/singer from Glasgow. Maisie was jilted at the alter two months before the beginning of the story by her fiancé Nathan. Her two friends are about to have a baby, so Maisie stand in for them as a caterer for an event that is hosted by Maisy’s friend, Carny. Then we have Scott Bassett, a 38-year-old who is feeling his life is not what he wants. He is in the process of trying to work out how to leave his wife and his job as well. He and his best friend Carson are both attending the event that his daughter, Carny, is hosting.
The third character Kelly Bassett is the 38-year-old mum of Carny and wife to Scott. They have been together since they were 16 when she was pregnant with Carny. Kelly has a secret she is keeping.
The final character in the story we meet is Harriet Bassett. She is a lonely 80-year-old woman who is recovering from a hip injury. After losing both her husband and her son and having no-one else she is struggling with her day to day life.
. I got so wrapped up in these peoples lives that I finished this in one day. The characters are all so lifelike and real. Their problems and issues so relatable along with the romance and the dilemmas that come with the romance too. A story that has quite a lot going on and there are so many emotions running throughout, even grief and guilt just like in life. No-one is immune and these characters all play their part in this lovely summer read.
A fabulously woven tale of family, friendships and the emotions they experience over the day. A book I am so happy I chose to read.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the copy of this book.

This was my first book by Shari Low and I found it charming. The characters were delightful and I especially enjoyed the concept of how much things can change in the course of 24 hours. A nice summer read!

I absolutely love this authors books so was so excited to be approved to read this one and it certainly didn’t disappoint. I was hooked from the first page. This story has me laughing and crying in equal measure and there were some very poignant moments throughout along with some which made me want to jump for joy. The characters were very relatable and the story covered a lot of issues such as infertility rejection and loneliness and bereavement in a very sensitive way and showed how friends and family can help put things back together again when life doesn’t go to plan.

I absolutely loved all of the Characters in this book in their own way particularly Maisie and Harriet and I would love a sequel to find out how these characters lives progressed beyond one summer sunrise. Am already excited for this authors next book. This one is definitely one of my favourites so far.

I just love Shari Low’s books, but I particularly love the ones where she takes a time period of 24 hours, some wonderful characters, and the day and the story unfolds…they are magical.

The characters in this book are so real and I was immediately catapulted into their lives. Each character has a story to tell, Maisie is getting over a broken heart, but still manages to be funny and self-deprecating, Harriet is just gorgeous, with so much sadness behind her, but needing a purpose in her life. Kelly and Scott have their problems, and it’s hard to see how they will resolve it all, though I liked them both and hoped it would work out somehow.

An absolute whirlwind of a story, with all these characters and the events of the day coming together in a swirl of emotions, laughter and love. I found myself completely immersed in this book and found it hard to put down. So well written and cleverly plotted, it’s both a joy and an escape to read this thoroughly enjoyable and captivating book. Highly recommended.

I loved this book. The characters were all individual and different. It explores how most people want to belong to a family, to know they have relatives that they share a history with. However it doesn't mean that its all happy times! Being together since they were 16 two of the people have to reevaluate their lives together, especially when an unexpected pregnancy arrives just as their 19 year old daughter is flying the nest, Harriet an elderly lady has lost her family and is so very lonely. She meets a nurse when she is in hospital who takes her to a party where she meets people her own age. Could this be the start of a new life and a sense of belonging? A well told story - Shari does it again!

Well… What a day they all had. A super summer read which takes you on each character’s rollercoaster of a day. From long lost families, to affairs, to children growing up and moving away, to trying to follow your dreams. This book has it all. A nice easy read by an author who is certainly becoming one of my favourites.

One summer sunrise takes place in one day and follows several characters and their families. And with family - comes drama!
It took me a little while to get into this book as there were so many different characters, but once I had a deeper understanding of the characters I did find it easier to read and follow.
I hadnt read Shari Low before, but I believe that there are others books with some of these characters.
Of the characters, I enjoyed the scenes and storylines that involved Harriet, I just found her story heartwarming and liked the was that the loneliness was sensitively portrayed. I was thrilled she got such a positive ending.
This was a good read that is a perfect summer read.

The author Shari Low herself has described her book One Summer Sunrise as a place of escape, in which to feel good, amidst all these uncertainties in these trying times. It has to be said that she has done a marvelous job of it. The story follows many characters from the morning till midnight, along with elaborations on their stories here and there, as they are going through big changes in their lives. 

Each character arrives at a kind of crossroad in their lives and they are all struggling to cope up with this curve life has thrown at them. The problems they have to overcome are very much similar to what regular people go through in their lives at least once; and so they are very relatable. This book will be particularly relatable for all of those who think they have hit a rut in their lives and would like to do something to get out if it. The story is also very uplifting and feels like a warm cup of chocolate in cold weather. I am very much impressed by this book and the author. I definitely recommend this book for those people who love to read a feel- good, uplifting, sweet book about relatable people with very relatable problems. 

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing this ARC. I enjoyed the book very much.

Having read this author’s previous two books and really enjoying the style of writing, I was looking forward to reading this one and certainly wasn’t disappointed. This is a delightfully warm and fulfilling read!

We are introduced to four sets of characters, all of whom have an element of conflict in their lives and, as the story unfolds, we are invited to witness their hopes, their fears and a wish for a happy ending.

Spanning the course of just one day for the majority of the story, there is an incredible amount of drama, humour and love packed into a delicious tale which keeps the reader turning the page right until the end. Harriet’s story, in particular, is especially heart-warming.

Perfect, summer reading!

This novel takes place over one day and follows the lives of four different people who are all brought together at a fundraising concert for a theatre group. At the outset, some of them seem unconnected but as the story develops, you realise that there are certain links. I enjoyed looking at the different generations and seeing that each person was at an important point in their lives. Carly is about to leave home after graduation, which leaves her parents facing an empty nest. However, there is much more to the picture than that. The most affecting character is Harriet who feels at the beginning that she has nothing left to live for. Lastly, there is Maisie, who has unfinished business with her ex-fiancé.
Family is an important part of this book and as you see, can take different forms. There are some warm and witty characters and you can genuinely believe in the ties between them. There are moments of humour to set against some poignant ones. In all, this is a great summer's read, with lively characters and uplifting moments.
In short: Lives collide
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

An easy to read story which on reflection seemed to cover years rather than just one important day for the four groups of characters. There are actually quite important issues raised in the book but it never preaches which is nice.

This book really does take place over a day. The events take place over sequential two hour periods during which we see how the characters decisions and their consequences shape their futures.

The characters, descriptions and the way they were interwoven through the story really worked. Despite the fact that we were following four different stories they were all clearly set out, none of them got muddled or tangled or confusing. I have to say, while I rooted for all of them, my favourites had to be Maisie and Harriet. Maisie being jilted on her wedding day really deserved to learn why and Harriet’s story was just heartbreaking.

I did guess at some of the endings and got some right and others wrong but what this story is really about is not working out what happens but seeing how decisions we make can potentially affect so many other people in ways we don’t necessarily consider at the time. People can present a completely different face to the world from the one they only show themselves at home and it really does prove that you should neve judge someone when you’ve no idea what they might be dealing with.

I loved this book, there’s a lot of life in it with characters of different ages and generations, but there’s also a fair bit of humour which I liked. The one warning I would give is to make sure you have tissues nearby when you’re reading as I needed a few with this book. They should probably put a little packet of them with each book, it would mean you’re guaranteed to have them to hand whenever you need them.

Shari Low is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I read One Summer Sunrise and quickly moved on to reading One Day In Summer (backwards, but I didn’t want to miss it).

I absolutely enjoyed the clever way the story takes place all in one summer’s day from sunrise to the end of the day, The main characters – Maisie, Harriet, Scott, and Kelly experience life changing events in the course of the day! These characters range from 25 to 80 and yet each of them is crafted so well by the author that you can empathise with them, cheer for them and remember them for a long time! The supporting characters too were very interesting!

The story moved smoothly from one character to another. There were highs and lows interspersed with the author’s trademark humour. So you have some moments that you are in tears and other moments where you laugh at the inappropriate comments and silliness.

Altogether another winner from Shari Low!

Although I felt incredibly daunted by the vast cast of characters, this was definitely a read worth persevering with. Over the course of a summer’s day, readers follow several characters as they experience heartache, loss and changing dynamics. This novel provoked many emotions and I thought it was a sweet, summer read with added ‘bite’.

The central characters were initially rather difficult to distinguish. It did not help that I read some of the names as too similar and felt a bit of pressure at the opening of the story to get the characters all in the right place. Helpfully (or unhelpfully?) the book begins with a breakdown of who is who: a bit of their background and which characters might be connected. It felt like I was preparing for a test! Therefore, I think it took several chapters before I felt confident with the focus switching between different individuals yet, once established, feel that they all stood out in their own way.

What I enjoyed most about this book is how all the characters felt so real and believable: their concerns and secrets were, in some way, relatable, mixed in with romantic dilemmas that you would expect from a novel of this genre. For example, Kelly is seriously concerned about ’empty nest syndrome’ with her daughter moving to London and her sister has had many failed attempts at IVF. On the other hand, Carny, Kelly’s daughter, is loving the opportunity of moving away from home with the prospect of truly starting adulthood. Across the characters, there are scenarios that readers can relate to, along with the fact that all seem rather genuine and likeable.

Yet, despite the summer setting, this book is not all warmth and romance. There are several sources of sadness and I thought Harriet’s story in particular was very emotional. Her confessions and attitude towards life were so desperate and recognisable. Having the opportunity to attend the garden party was an amazing boost for her and I was so keen to see Harriet happy with circumstances. In addition, some of the other characters also have emotional secrets, showing that, whilst the weather might be glorious, there can still be hidden sadness.

Whilst this is intended to be a light-hearted novel, I enjoyed Low’s exploration of family and relationships. The one-day period added a different dimension to books of a similar genre and, once I had got used to the different character perspectives, became intrigued with how each story would unfold. It felt very similar to an episode of 24, just without the terrorism and violence!

This is now my third read by Low and I was not disappointed. Reading this book provoked a range of emotions, both positive and negative. It was an enjoyable read and I think I will explore further of the writer’s books in future – because there are plenty that I have missed out on!

With thanks to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another one from a wonderfully prolific and talented author. We meet multiple people in this story on the same day and none of them are having a particularly good day. All are at a crossroads of a sort. It involves young love, older love, loneliness, heartache, aging, empty nest syndrome, multi-generational love and handles it all with humor, grace, wit, kindness and empathy. Ultimately we find out how they all interact and relate. Reminded me a little of the movie Love Actually, which I loved. I enjoyed reading this and finished in one setting. It was for me a sweet lovely real world read.

Emotional, humorous and full of poignant secrets, this story takes place over a summer's day told from four main viewpoints. The characters are vibrant, and their stories interesting. As the day progresses, the stories intertwine with some surprising revelations. The dialogue is peppered with humour. The family and friendship dynamics are believable.

It's an engaging read with characters that are easy to empathise with. I couldn't put it down. The day ends with drama and forgiveness and the epilogue a year later gives the story a satisfying conclusion.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

5 Word Review: friendship, revelations, family, survival, hope.

I didn't even know I needed this.

When the book starts we are thrust straight into the drama of Masie's life, and I have to admit she was my favourite character. Her heart is kind and generous and I felt so sorry for what she went through in the past. I was proud of her for facing up to it though.

I don't think I actually disliked any of the characters. I really felt for all of them, particularly Scott and Kelly. It broke my heart a little bit.

To say that the relationships in this book are messy would be an understatement... And it was excellent. I was so here for all of the drama and emotions.,and seeing how each character handled their hurdles.

The setting moves around a fair bit, this isn't a book centered around community. This is much more about how individual relationships can have an effect on pretty much everyone, and that was rather refreshing to read.

I thought that One Summer Sunrise was an excellent coming together of characters, and I loved how the stories were told. Its the kind of story that stays with you long after you've finished, and as serious as it could be at times it definitely gave me more than a few chuckles. I really appreciated the lighter more humorous scenes. By the end of the books I felt like I truly knew these characters, and I was very much invested in their lives.

This is the perfect book to get lost in, it will keep you reading long into sprawling summer evenings. I didn't want to put it down.

A crisp storyline, excellent characters, each with their own stories, all of which intertwined.
I really loved this book which kept me hooked from start to finish.
Some parts that made me laugh or smile, others which made me cry.
Shari Low is definitely in my top 10 author list.
I cannot wait for her next book!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of Shari Low and her wonderful writing style. I really enjoyed her previous book One Day in Summer, so when I found out that Shari has written the next book in the same format I was overjoyed. Itwasgreat to see the familiar faces (Hope McTeer, Yvie Danton, Maisie) or hear about how the protagonists of the previous book were doing (Aggie and Aaron) and, of course, it was great to be back to the same location-Glasgow!

As in the previous book, the events unfold over 24hours, but so many things happen to our protagonists that you can rest assured their lives will never be the same. 22 year old Carny Bassett has just graduated and is organising a fundraiser for her alma mater, the drama department,which is always short on funds. The party is to take place on the grounds of Lomond Lake House, where co-incidentally Maisie McTeer‘s ex-fiance proposed to her and later left her at the altar. Of course,this is the last place she would like to return to,but her best friend goes into labour and Maisie has tosupervisethe catering at the event. In the meantime, Carny’s parents Kelly and Scott Bassett are both contemplating some dramatic changes in their lives and their marriage. They got married at16, when Kelly found out she was pregnant and have always done their best to give Carny a stable family environment, but perhaps in doing so they have been neglecting their own feelings and dreams for too long. Our last protagonist Harriet is a lonely octogenarian who starts this day on the geriatric ward supervised by Yvie Dalton who has the biggest heart in the world and… a couple tickets to Carny’s fundraiser. Harriet’s surname also happens to be Bassett- perhaps she can find a lost relative or two on this summer day?

The narrative structure is very clear and it is very easy to follow the events, even though there are also quite a few references to past events. I realy liked this format which shows how important it is to live your life to the fullest, but also be thoughtful, kind and take into consideration other people’s needs, especially, since we aren’t always aware of them, when we make plans or introduce changes in our own life.

I found myself raising my eyebrows at and arguing with some of the characters’ decisions and the epilogue, but I guess it’s a great sign when you feel so involved in the book that you want to do that. Honourable mention goes to my favourite secondary characters-Sonya (Scott’s mum), Jane and Janice (Maisie’s indomitable catering assistants)- you had me in stitches with your banter!

An enjoyable summer read with plenty of family drama- fans of Shari Low are going to be delighted. Looking forward to Shari’s next book!

So much can happen between the span of time from sunrise to sunset...
...and this story proves that beyond a shadow of a doubt!

Fiction it may be, but these characters will work their way right into your heart. Their stories will capture you, make you cringe, smile, laugh, cry, and gasp as you cross your fingers and hope against hope that the end of each life's tale isn't left simply as is. Maisie, Scott, Kelly, Carny, Rick, Carson, and SO MANY MORE are introduced in their own time, and have stories so worth following. They dance around each other, and intertwine along the way, but they all have such distinct voices, you won't be able to leave any of them behind. Though each touched me in some fashion, I think the one I was most attached to was Harriett. The life she's lived, the losses she's suffered, the decisions she's made, and yet even in her darkest hours, the strength she has, both of heart, and mind. I was literally reading with tears rolling down my face at one point, blatantly updating my Goodreads status with "...that better not be the end of Harriet's story.."...and yes, I meant it! I was totally invested and if things reached THAT point with THAT twist, I just didn't know what to do!

In short, it's a story about life, love, family, and those we choose to hold dear. It doesn't shy away from the messy times, nor does it gloss over the good, but it does remind us that every day is a gift; another twenty four hours with which to chase our dreams, follow our hearts, and positively impact this world...or at the very least, make our corner of it a little brighter.