The Sunflower Experience

by Rhonda Mumby, Sarah Purdy (Editor)

Ryker Martin is annoyed. This summer is supposed to be about him overcoming the past year and focusing on regaining his starting position on the university baseball team, earning back his parents’ trust, and getting his life on track. Everleigh is a distraction he can’t afford. And just when Ryker thinks he has Everleigh pushed out of his mind, she lands in his lap.

Everleigh Wilson is focused on spending one perfect last summer with her best friend, Crestin, before she heads off to college and he heads off to pursue his acting dreams in New York. But when Crestin tells her he thinks Ryker is keeping a secret, she’s even more intrigued by his broody nature. Nearly every interaction Everleigh has with Ryker over the summer is contentious, frustrating, irritating. So, when she accepts a two-week job at The Sunflower Experience with Crestin, she is unprepared to discover she will be around Ryker all day every day. For TWO WHOLE WEEKS.

Despite all of this, the two are drawn together, again and again, and the more they learn about the other’s secrets, the more they want to know. The Sunflower Experience is a safe space, a utopia away from reality, a promise of something magical. Can Ryker and Everleigh overcome their past traumas to build a connection that will transcend? Or will the reality of their diverging paths keep them from finding something meaningful?

Genres: Romance

396 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2025

About the author

A multi-genre author, I enjoy crafting stories that pull readers into an immersive experience, encouraging them to read just one more chapter!

My characters will become your friends, your favorite sidekicks, maybe even your most hated enemies. Regardless, their stories will stay with you long after the last page.

My debut novel, A Journey to My Life, was a finalist in the 2018 Write Place Iowa Writers Contest.

The Sunflower Experience is my second publication, released in late 2025, and part of a Spice is Nice series.

Semi-Charmed - The Ambassadors, will be the first book in my historical fantasy series delving into the world of magic. Expect to see that in early 2026!

As an indie author, I am my marketing team. You can find out more about me and the books I am currently writing on my website rhondamumby.com or on tiktok.com/@rhonda.mumby.

Reviews

[Kyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this!! I am excited to see what happens in After The Sunflower Experience! The characters were great and I loved the story so so much! A great book to finish up the year with.

[Misty Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I leave my review early? I did receive an ARC of this book and it was amazing. I was a little distracted in the beginning and it quickly swept up my attention and kept it there. When the book ended on a cliffhanger, all I wanted was the next book, even though the author teased me with a couple of chapters from the second book. I. Still. Want. More. I can't wait until she gets the second book finished and will definitely have to check out the other books by this author. The Sunflower Experience is worth every second I spend reading this book. And when you finish, you will want to know what happens next to our main characters.

[jessandmaple · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC and was so excited to start reading it. This book was beautifully written and I didn’t want to put it down. I loved the 2 main characters and how their story played out! Oh and crestin everyone needs a crestin in their lives. I can not wait for book 2 to see where the journey leads!

[Andrea Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved everything about this book! The main characters, and the side characters were so well written! This story took me back to my childhood with the setting being on a small town farm, love that! I’m excited for book 2.

[Amy Flowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I thought this was an amazing read. I highly recommend for 15 year old and up. It is a little spicy which I enjoyed.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sunflower Experience was such a fun read! I received an ARC of this book from Rhonda and dove straight in. Ryker and Everleigh are both exceptional characters who undergo significant growth throughout the book. This book is full of love and new things that I've never read before. Fair warning, it does end on a cliffhanger, so be prepared to NEED the next book immediately! Crestin is also an amazing side character that I want more from! Go read this immediately!

[Ade Funa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's another good one from Miss Mumby that I absolutely ate up with delight. Everleigh and Ryker are a duo you get wrapped up in right from their first POVs. As always , I am enamored by Rhonda's immersive writing. Its truly the authenticity of the dialogue she portrayed and the conflicts that arise between their interactions. And I'll just say it , the spice was spicing Ma'am!!! Miss Mumby came through and delightfully! Six stars! I'm normally not a fan of the third person perspective, but the flow of the book drew me in with no hesitation. Even with the little intricacies of anxiety that Everleigh admits to, unsure whether Ryker texts her back after their encounter, is so relatable. There's more that goes on past the cozy book cover ;) . Rhonda's got herself a fan for life! And don't get me started on the amazing playlist recommendations! This was a unique read for me and I loved every bit of it.