Sachi lives in a small town with her husband. Their 2 kids are both away at university. Upon reconnecting with an old school friend (whom Sachi thinks is very glamorous and daring), Sachi decides that she’s fed up with her life as it currently is and resolves to change it. She decides to divorce her husband and move away to New York where she gets a job and starts experimenting.

I DNF at around 30%. I couldn’t relate to Sachi. She skips straight to the divorce button without making any effort to fix her marriage or discuss things with anyone. She doesn’t seem to have any local friends to talk to. Then there’s her journal with the different voices in her head that she’s keeping on the advice of her therapist - these are something of a stream of consciousness and parts I found myself skipping very quickly. She wishes her kids were more independent but won’t set boundaries/tell them they’re an adult and should go and buy a box of hankies themselves.

I feel that the author tried to cram too much in without really taking the time to explore things further - there’s a failed marriage, childhood trauma, exploring sexuality, the contemporary dating scene, medical history, etc. I feel that the failure of the marriage could easily have made a novel in and of itself. A limitation of a 1st person narrative in that the reader can only see things through Sachi’s very lopsided vision - would a 3rd person have worked better here to provide the distance and make her more sympathetic?

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I appreciated Sachi/Sunshine’s transformation, taking charge and refusing to be a victim.
There were several insightful and inspiring moments.
Though, this was not for me. The writing flows, but the style was not my cup of tea.
I believe this book can help many women/readers.
2.5 stars rounded up.

In Bringing Sunshine Back to My Mind, Sachi Kubo-Sanchez starts off on a powerful journey of self-discovery and healing. Leaving behind a stifling marriage and conservative hometown, Sachi explores the vibrant life of New York City, only to confront repressed trauma and fragmented aspects of her psyche. This book beautifully blends humor with profound emotional depth as Sachi navigates motherhood, her emerging sexuality, and the challenges of a new job. I particularly enjoyed the raw and honest portrayal of her struggles and triumphs, which made her journey incredibly relatable and inspiring.

Ever wondered what it’s like to reinvent yourself from scratch? 🌀 Bringing Sunshine Back to My Mind is a rollercoaster of emotions that’ll have you laughing, crying, and cheering for Sachi Kubo-Sanchez as she takes on NYC, therapy, and a whole lot of self-discovery! If you’re ready for a wild ride through the chaos of modern life with a dash of humor and a lot of heart, this book’s for you. Trust me, you won’t want to put it down! 🌟📚

This is A LOT! By that I mean that it is a long book and the content is provocative and detailed enough for the reader to pause and consider on just about every page. So, be prepared to settle in with this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. The content will be compelling to those on their own journeys.