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Sunshine Simpson - Friends Always and Forever
"A series that will appeal to fans of Jacqueline Wilson." The Times
Sunshine Simpson is off on the holiday of a lifetime! Her Auntie Sharon has WON THE LOTTERY, and she's taking the whole family to JAMAICA! Sunshine can't wait for sun, fun, and seeing the country where her grandparents grew up.
There's also a SECRET WEDDING to organise for Sunshine's parents - the perfect distraction from thinking about starting secondary school.
But then everything starts going WRONG! Auntie Sharon is sick and can't be a bridesmaid, they only have chicken and chips for the wedding banquet and Sunshine has to become chief wedding planner.
Will it be an island disaster, or can Sunshine pull off the wedding of the century?
PRAISE FOR THE SUNSHINE SIMPSON SERIES:
"An utterly brilliant book that had me laughing and crying in equal measure. G.M. Linton has created a truly radiant heroine. It is officially a new favourite." Tolá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun
"A book as warm and radiant as sunshine itself! I loved it." Lisa Thompson, author of The Goldfish Boy
"A beautiful, heartwarming hug of a book about the power of self-acceptance. I defy anyone not to fall in love with Sunshine!" Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear
"I loved this book, Sunshine entirely lives up to her name in this delightful story that manages to be both sincerely heartfelt and sparklingly funny in equal measure." L.D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency
"A huge, uplifting hug with a message that says: be yourself; be proud of who you are." Jen Carney, author of The Accidental Diary of B.U.G
"The story is filled with heart, humour, joy and sadness. I couldn't stop reading." Serena Patel, author of the Anisha, Accidental Detective series
Sunshine Simpson is off on the holiday of a lifetime! Her Auntie Sharon has WON THE LOTTERY, and she's taking the whole family to JAMAICA! Sunshine can't wait for sun, fun, and seeing the country where her grandparents grew up.
There's also a SECRET WEDDING to organise for Sunshine's parents - the perfect distraction from thinking about starting secondary school.
But then everything starts going WRONG! Auntie Sharon is sick and can't be a bridesmaid, they only have chicken and chips for the wedding banquet and Sunshine has to become chief wedding planner.
Will it be an island disaster, or can Sunshine pull off the wedding of the century?
PRAISE FOR THE SUNSHINE SIMPSON SERIES:
"An utterly brilliant book that had me laughing and crying in equal measure. G.M. Linton has created a truly radiant heroine. It is officially a new favourite." Tolá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun
"A book as warm and radiant as sunshine itself! I loved it." Lisa Thompson, author of The Goldfish Boy
"A beautiful, heartwarming hug of a book about the power of self-acceptance. I defy anyone not to fall in love with Sunshine!" Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear
"I loved this book, Sunshine entirely lives up to her name in this delightful story that manages to be both sincerely heartfelt and sparklingly funny in equal measure." L.D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency
"A huge, uplifting hug with a message that says: be yourself; be proud of who you are." Jen Carney, author of The Accidental Diary of B.U.G
"The story is filled with heart, humour, joy and sadness. I couldn't stop reading." Serena Patel, author of the Anisha, Accidental Detective series
301 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2024
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 12, 2024
I apologise I read this at the beginning of teh summer hols and has taken me ages to actually write a full review (mini ones on X and Insta) I haven't read any of the Sunshine Simpson stories but it's ok this works well enough as a standalone. There is enough information about the back story to understand what has happened before.
Sunshine beloved Grandad Bobby had passed away the previous summer. In memory of him her Aunt had done his lottery numbers at Christmas 7,14,21,28,35 and 11. Sunshine didn't know where the 11 came from. But her Aunt won - £4.5 million! Apart from a massive spending spree she wanted to take the whole family to Jamaica. Grandad had left as part of the Windrush generation and had never been back. Sunshine is worrying. Her friends are all going to a different school to her in September, she doesn't like the uniform either. The holiday, what if her family don't like her. So many worries! Her friends keep in touch through the holiday.But while they are planning Dad realises it's his and Mum's 15th Wedding Anniversary (she dropped some big hints!) What can he do? How can he make it special? He could organise a vow renewal couldn't he? If Sunshine helps, oh and Auntie Sharon because she just heard the plan. But how can they stop Mum who seemingly has eyes in the back of her head figuring it out.
Sunshine takes something very special with her. Chaos starts before they've even left the street when Sunshine realises Lena is not in the taxi! She's standing in the hall with her toy bat looking very worried! Finally here they were Aunt Sharon, her partner Dennis, son Daz, Grannie Cynthie, Grampie Clive, Sunshine plus her Mum, Dad, and the 'Twinzies' Lena and Peter, are at the airport on the way to Jamaica.
They arrive in Jamaica, meet the weeding planner - who is less than impressed at their lack of planning! I mean they have no cake or dress! None of them had thought about that. Worse still Aunt Sharon gets ill, the mosquitos like her a lot! And Sunshine has to try to sort it all - thank goodness for her cousin. The twins have found out so their job is to keep Mum occupied whenever she gets too nosy!
She meets her whole Jamaican family, Glammy Pepper's twinzie is Great Aunt Joy. They are funny together. Her Jamaican cousin, Ziggy, has a pet goat called Brian who causes more problems. Whilst visiting Great Aunt Vi (Grandad Bobby's sister) Sunshine realises what the 11 in the lottery numbers is for! She also leaves something behind, so a piece of Grandad will be back in his beloved Jamaica with his sister.
But can they finish what they started and organise this wedding without Mum finding out? And what surprises will be for Sunshine?
This book is excellent. It's like a big, warm cuddle. Sunshine is adored by her family and her friends. She learns that perhaps she worries too much and in the words of cousin Ziggy she needs to see " Life's an adventure to be had." This makes her smile because Grandad always told her to have her own adventures too! Sunshine and her family are a joy, they make you laugh and cry in equal measure. Read it it's brilliant.
I love the illustrations by Fuuji Takashi too, mostly little and interspersed throughout the pages they add to the humour and feeling. I particularly like the one on page 175! (it's funny!)
Thank you to Fritha at Usborne books for the copy, which I have reviewed as I want to not because asked.
TA, ESCP.
Sunshine beloved Grandad Bobby had passed away the previous summer. In memory of him her Aunt had done his lottery numbers at Christmas 7,14,21,28,35 and 11. Sunshine didn't know where the 11 came from. But her Aunt won - £4.5 million! Apart from a massive spending spree she wanted to take the whole family to Jamaica. Grandad had left as part of the Windrush generation and had never been back. Sunshine is worrying. Her friends are all going to a different school to her in September, she doesn't like the uniform either. The holiday, what if her family don't like her. So many worries! Her friends keep in touch through the holiday.But while they are planning Dad realises it's his and Mum's 15th Wedding Anniversary (she dropped some big hints!) What can he do? How can he make it special? He could organise a vow renewal couldn't he? If Sunshine helps, oh and Auntie Sharon because she just heard the plan. But how can they stop Mum who seemingly has eyes in the back of her head figuring it out.
Sunshine takes something very special with her. Chaos starts before they've even left the street when Sunshine realises Lena is not in the taxi! She's standing in the hall with her toy bat looking very worried! Finally here they were Aunt Sharon, her partner Dennis, son Daz, Grannie Cynthie, Grampie Clive, Sunshine plus her Mum, Dad, and the 'Twinzies' Lena and Peter, are at the airport on the way to Jamaica.
They arrive in Jamaica, meet the weeding planner - who is less than impressed at their lack of planning! I mean they have no cake or dress! None of them had thought about that. Worse still Aunt Sharon gets ill, the mosquitos like her a lot! And Sunshine has to try to sort it all - thank goodness for her cousin. The twins have found out so their job is to keep Mum occupied whenever she gets too nosy!
She meets her whole Jamaican family, Glammy Pepper's twinzie is Great Aunt Joy. They are funny together. Her Jamaican cousin, Ziggy, has a pet goat called Brian who causes more problems. Whilst visiting Great Aunt Vi (Grandad Bobby's sister) Sunshine realises what the 11 in the lottery numbers is for! She also leaves something behind, so a piece of Grandad will be back in his beloved Jamaica with his sister.
But can they finish what they started and organise this wedding without Mum finding out? And what surprises will be for Sunshine?
This book is excellent. It's like a big, warm cuddle. Sunshine is adored by her family and her friends. She learns that perhaps she worries too much and in the words of cousin Ziggy she needs to see " Life's an adventure to be had." This makes her smile because Grandad always told her to have her own adventures too! Sunshine and her family are a joy, they make you laugh and cry in equal measure. Read it it's brilliant.
I love the illustrations by Fuuji Takashi too, mostly little and interspersed throughout the pages they add to the humour and feeling. I particularly like the one on page 175! (it's funny!)
Thank you to Fritha at Usborne books for the copy, which I have reviewed as I want to not because asked.
TA, ESCP.
February 15, 2025
Such a good book so funny
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews