What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sun in Her Eyes
Blinding sunshine; A bend in the road; What became of the little girl with the sun in her eyes?
Amber was three when a car crash stole her mother's life. She doesn't remember the accident, but a stranger at the scene has been unable to forget. Now, almost thirty years later, she's trying to track Amber down. Amber, meanwhile, is married to Ned and living on the other side of the world in London. When her father has a stroke, she flies straight home to Australia to be with him. Away from her husband, Amber finds comfort in her oldest friends, but her feelings for Ethan, the gorgeous, green-eyed man she once fell for, have never been platonic. As Ethan and Amber grow closer, married life in London feels far away. Then Amber receives a letter that changes everything. 'Before your mother died, she asked me to tell you something'
Amber was three when a car crash stole her mother's life. She doesn't remember the accident, but a stranger at the scene has been unable to forget. Now, almost thirty years later, she's trying to track Amber down. Amber, meanwhile, is married to Ned and living on the other side of the world in London. When her father has a stroke, she flies straight home to Australia to be with him. Away from her husband, Amber finds comfort in her oldest friends, but her feelings for Ethan, the gorgeous, green-eyed man she once fell for, have never been platonic. As Ethan and Amber grow closer, married life in London feels far away. Then Amber receives a letter that changes everything. 'Before your mother died, she asked me to tell you something'
385 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2015
102 people are currently reading
2788 people want to read
About the author
Paige Toon
36 books5,630 followersPaige Toon grew up between England, Australia and America and has been writing books set in sun-drenched locations around the world since 2007. She has written fifteen novels, a three-part spin-off for young adults and a collection of short stories. Her books have sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide. She loves hearing from her readers so get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @PaigeToonAuthor or visit her website and sign up to her free newsletter The Hidden Paige.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 384 reviews
December 15, 2015
4.25 Stars
I enjoy women's fiction, but it is not my favourite genre. Its not often I get totally engrossed in it. But today, I couldn't put this book down. Every second that my son had his eyes closed today, my eyes were buried in this novel. Thank goodness he still has a day nap! When he was awake and we were going about our day, I was still thinking about it, and I picked it up again as soon as he went to bed tonight to finish it! I thought it was great.
Amber is 29 and living in London with her husband Ned and their relationship has been going through a turbulent time. She gets a phone call from her fathers girlfriend telling Amber that her father has had a stroke and she needs to come home to Adelaide, Australia. In the same morning she had just been made redundant, and with no work commitments, she hurries on a plane, alone. When she reaches Adelaide she has to confront her father's condition, her wicked step mother, and the man she has been in love with since she was eight years old. Amber is forced to evaluate her life and discover if the grass really is greener on the other side..?
Now I didn't particularly like the main character Amber. I thought some (ok most) of her decisions were stupid and there was more than one occasion that I wanted to slap her across the face and scream "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?". But she was so READABLE! Even though I didn't like her, I was totally hooked and immersed in her life! I was FORCED to like her by the author DAMMIT! I really didn't want to!
The beauty in this novel is the way it is written. The way the flawed characters pulled at the heartstrings and how the relationships twist and turn. I have read novels with similar themes and premises that just fell totally flat in comparison. I am so excited to take a look at the authors other novels which I have heard are as good, if not superior to this one.
The interactions between the characters and the budding chemistry and humour was so enjoyable, however at times it dragged a little bit for me. But don't let that turn you off this book, I am a thriller junkie so I think I get frustrated at a slower pace than most people would, especially big fans of women's fiction.
Overall I thought it was fantastic.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely for any romance/womens fiction fan. I think you will really enjoy the superb writing and extremely likeable characters.
Thanks to Paige Toon via NetGalley for a copy of The Sun In Her Eyes to read and review!
For more reviews check out my blog
www.booksbabiesbeing.com
Facebook
www.facebook/booksbabiesbeing
Twitter
www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel
I enjoy women's fiction, but it is not my favourite genre. Its not often I get totally engrossed in it. But today, I couldn't put this book down. Every second that my son had his eyes closed today, my eyes were buried in this novel. Thank goodness he still has a day nap! When he was awake and we were going about our day, I was still thinking about it, and I picked it up again as soon as he went to bed tonight to finish it! I thought it was great.
Amber is 29 and living in London with her husband Ned and their relationship has been going through a turbulent time. She gets a phone call from her fathers girlfriend telling Amber that her father has had a stroke and she needs to come home to Adelaide, Australia. In the same morning she had just been made redundant, and with no work commitments, she hurries on a plane, alone. When she reaches Adelaide she has to confront her father's condition, her wicked step mother, and the man she has been in love with since she was eight years old. Amber is forced to evaluate her life and discover if the grass really is greener on the other side..?
Now I didn't particularly like the main character Amber. I thought some (ok most) of her decisions were stupid and there was more than one occasion that I wanted to slap her across the face and scream "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?". But she was so READABLE! Even though I didn't like her, I was totally hooked and immersed in her life! I was FORCED to like her by the author DAMMIT! I really didn't want to!
The beauty in this novel is the way it is written. The way the flawed characters pulled at the heartstrings and how the relationships twist and turn. I have read novels with similar themes and premises that just fell totally flat in comparison. I am so excited to take a look at the authors other novels which I have heard are as good, if not superior to this one.
The interactions between the characters and the budding chemistry and humour was so enjoyable, however at times it dragged a little bit for me. But don't let that turn you off this book, I am a thriller junkie so I think I get frustrated at a slower pace than most people would, especially big fans of women's fiction.
Overall I thought it was fantastic.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely for any romance/womens fiction fan. I think you will really enjoy the superb writing and extremely likeable characters.
Thanks to Paige Toon via NetGalley for a copy of The Sun In Her Eyes to read and review!
For more reviews check out my blog
www.booksbabiesbeing.com
www.facebook/booksbabiesbeing
www.twitter.com/BBB_Mel
August 3, 2015
Did you ever watch the movie The Good Girl with Jennifer Aniston?
The Sun in Her Eyes reminded me a lot of this movie. Well, the events are totally different but it reminded me of the overall theme: Can someone still be a good person (and feel like one) in light of his/her mistakes?
Paige Toon's The Sun in Her Eyes offers excellent discussion for fans of women's fiction. Do we still really know old friends after the years have taken their toll? Is the grass actually greener or are we just bored? Can fantasizing be dangerous or is it just mindless fun? Do suspicions about our partners justify us in engaging in similar behavior? Is the knowledge about our actions our burden to bear or should we tell the person it will inevitably hurt? Do we sometimes hurt others in order to ultimately hurt ourselves? Do the words we hear as children stay in our heart and mind forever?
I love how Ms. Toon creates such incredibly complex characters, situations, and relationship dynamics. They all are so realistically flawed that I often feel torn while reading. But these are the types of stories that prompt readers to engage in self-examination and there is always benefit in that. We are all human and we learn from others...even if they happen to be of the fictional variety :)
If you're a fan of Paige Toon, you will definitely want to include The Sun in Her Eyes in your collection. I haven't read much of Ms. Toon (something I plan to soon rectify), but I've always immensely enjoyed the little I have read. This one was no exception. Check it out!
Remember: Do good. Be good. Have a fun life.
My favorite quote:
"Mistakes don't make a person good or bad,' she says. 'They make a person. It's what you do afterwards that counts."
The Sun in Her Eyes reminded me a lot of this movie. Well, the events are totally different but it reminded me of the overall theme: Can someone still be a good person (and feel like one) in light of his/her mistakes?
Paige Toon's The Sun in Her Eyes offers excellent discussion for fans of women's fiction. Do we still really know old friends after the years have taken their toll? Is the grass actually greener or are we just bored? Can fantasizing be dangerous or is it just mindless fun? Do suspicions about our partners justify us in engaging in similar behavior? Is the knowledge about our actions our burden to bear or should we tell the person it will inevitably hurt? Do we sometimes hurt others in order to ultimately hurt ourselves? Do the words we hear as children stay in our heart and mind forever?
I love how Ms. Toon creates such incredibly complex characters, situations, and relationship dynamics. They all are so realistically flawed that I often feel torn while reading. But these are the types of stories that prompt readers to engage in self-examination and there is always benefit in that. We are all human and we learn from others...even if they happen to be of the fictional variety :)
If you're a fan of Paige Toon, you will definitely want to include The Sun in Her Eyes in your collection. I haven't read much of Ms. Toon (something I plan to soon rectify), but I've always immensely enjoyed the little I have read. This one was no exception. Check it out!
Remember: Do good. Be good. Have a fun life.
My favorite quote:
"Mistakes don't make a person good or bad,' she says. 'They make a person. It's what you do afterwards that counts."
January 27, 2019
This is one of the absolute worst books I had to endure ever. Honestly. If I could have given it 0 stars I would.
The main character, Amber (why oh why does she have my middle name?), is one of the most selfish literary persons I have ever come across and I really would like to just slap her once or twice. A third time just because she's that horrible.
Amber's father, who lives in Australia while she's in London, has suffered a stroke so she flies out to go see him and help his partner, Liz, take care of him. She leaves her husband Ned behind and not in any good way because I'm pretty sure they're a bit tense before she leaves. Ned is a creative director at some business if I remember correctly and one of his seniors, Zara, likes him even though he's married. I can understand why Amber would be upset about this but that's not the worst of it.
Amber arrives in Australia (where she used to live with her dad and Liz before she decided to go touring Europe or whatever to "get away" from them and ends up falling in love with and staying in London blah blah blah) and spends the entire time there, at least to me, reconnecting with her old friends and life and pretending to care for her dad. Who, may I remind you, has had a stroke. On top of it all, Amber meets her old friend/crush Ethan who she's had feelings for since who knows when and apparently she never got over these feelings. Fair enough. Amber even admits her whole heart wasn't into marrying her current husband because of these feelings she harboured for Ethan. Okay.
I would really hate to have go through the events of this book again because I'll be upset all over but there's this one part where Ethan and Amber are looking at the land that Ethan plans to buy to plant whatever kind of grapes he wanted to plant there and a wild fire blazes up, almost killing the two. Of course, if we're about to die, the only thing we can do is *cue dramatic music* have sex!
I kid you not.
Amber doesn't even have the good graces to feel guilty about it. She knows that she should but she doesn't. My God. She then goes on to sleep with Ethan two more times and still not feel guilty about it! Do you know when she starts feeling guilty? When one of her friends tells her that /cue snobby, privileged voice/ this one time Ethan like totally called his wife a fat cow and like, said she disgusts him or something like that but like, you didn't hear it from me (I want to poke my eyes out).
Then she finds out that she's pregnant and isn't sure whether it's Ethan's or Ned's (Ethan doesn't want it by the way. He's got two of his own not to mention he's going through a messy divorce). Amber comes to the realization that maybe she doesn't love Ethan as much as she thought she did after all and that she loves loves LOVES her husband instead (really, can I slap her?). It turns out the baby belongs to Ned who flies all the way to Australia to be with his cheating wife who decides to keep her infidelity to herself "for the sake of her marriage and unborn baby". Now mind you, Ned admits to Amber that his senior came on to him and kissed him and that he had no idea that she liked him like that but that he was quitting his job because he loves his wife and Amber, dear old Amber, has the gall to be upset with Ned. Hypocritical much?
If it wasn't so rainy over here I'd start a bonfire with this book. I probably still can to keep myself warm during these cold nights.
The main character, Amber (why oh why does she have my middle name?), is one of the most selfish literary persons I have ever come across and I really would like to just slap her once or twice. A third time just because she's that horrible.
Amber's father, who lives in Australia while she's in London, has suffered a stroke so she flies out to go see him and help his partner, Liz, take care of him. She leaves her husband Ned behind and not in any good way because I'm pretty sure they're a bit tense before she leaves. Ned is a creative director at some business if I remember correctly and one of his seniors, Zara, likes him even though he's married. I can understand why Amber would be upset about this but that's not the worst of it.
Amber arrives in Australia (where she used to live with her dad and Liz before she decided to go touring Europe or whatever to "get away" from them and ends up falling in love with and staying in London blah blah blah) and spends the entire time there, at least to me, reconnecting with her old friends and life and pretending to care for her dad. Who, may I remind you, has had a stroke. On top of it all, Amber meets her old friend/crush Ethan who she's had feelings for since who knows when and apparently she never got over these feelings. Fair enough. Amber even admits her whole heart wasn't into marrying her current husband because of these feelings she harboured for Ethan. Okay.
I would really hate to have go through the events of this book again because I'll be upset all over but there's this one part where Ethan and Amber are looking at the land that Ethan plans to buy to plant whatever kind of grapes he wanted to plant there and a wild fire blazes up, almost killing the two. Of course, if we're about to die, the only thing we can do is *cue dramatic music* have sex!
I kid you not.
Amber doesn't even have the good graces to feel guilty about it. She knows that she should but she doesn't. My God. She then goes on to sleep with Ethan two more times and still not feel guilty about it! Do you know when she starts feeling guilty? When one of her friends tells her that /cue snobby, privileged voice/ this one time Ethan like totally called his wife a fat cow and like, said she disgusts him or something like that but like, you didn't hear it from me (I want to poke my eyes out).
Then she finds out that she's pregnant and isn't sure whether it's Ethan's or Ned's (Ethan doesn't want it by the way. He's got two of his own not to mention he's going through a messy divorce). Amber comes to the realization that maybe she doesn't love Ethan as much as she thought she did after all and that she loves loves LOVES her husband instead (really, can I slap her?). It turns out the baby belongs to Ned who flies all the way to Australia to be with his cheating wife who decides to keep her infidelity to herself "for the sake of her marriage and unborn baby". Now mind you, Ned admits to Amber that his senior came on to him and kissed him and that he had no idea that she liked him like that but that he was quitting his job because he loves his wife and Amber, dear old Amber, has the gall to be upset with Ned. Hypocritical much?
If it wasn't so rainy over here I'd start a bonfire with this book. I probably still can to keep myself warm during these cold nights.
May 22, 2015
Lately I became Paige Toon's massive fan, and I am always waiting impatiently for her new releases every year. I will be honest with you, it was not always like that, but the last few books - "The Sun in Her Eyes" included - have just had me hooked. I don't know, maybe I've just grown up to absolutely appreciate her books?
Amber is living in the UK with her husband. She's a maths teacher, but the last years she's been working as a broker, and has just been made redundant. On the same day she also receives a phone call from Australia, from her father's partner Liz, that he had a stroke and is in hospital. Amber heads home immediately, leaving Ned behind. Lately the situation was a little tense between them, as Ned is working with Zara, and Amber is sure that Zara has the hots for her husband, and it leads to many misunderstanding between the couple. And - in Australia, there is Ethan, Amber's best friend for ever, since they were kids, and a man she fell for, but nobody knows about her feelings, especially not Ethan...
Australia is still a very exciting continent for me and I'd love to visit it one day, really, so I truly enjoyed the setting of this book and Paige's descriptions of the place, which were so vivid, no matter if the characters were sitting in the bar or were somewhere outside the town, visiting properties and vineyards, keeping an eye on the snakes and watching the kangaroos.
One of the strength of this book is the fact that the characters are not so obvious and that they are so complex. I was changing my mind about them more than once, especially about Ethan, who was absolutely charming and lovely at the beginning, hell, a sex - god with those green eyes, but who turned out to be not this kind of person that I thought - I don't like people playing with other people's feelings! It was really like a rollercoaster ride with Ethan and my feelings to him, once we were high and then suddenly he did or said something (or rather, didn't do or say!) and we were deep, deep down. But it was the same with Ned - at first he stroke me as a whingy, moody person and through the bigger part of the story I was thinking, boy, how did Amber end with you? You seem to only follow your own instinct, you don't consider what your wife has to say on the matters that affect you both, and you don't see so obvious things! But then Paige has taken us back in time and told us how Ned and Amber met, we got to know a little about his background, and then Ned himself came to his senses and he was again in my good books. It doesn't really happen often that I have such mixed feelings about the characters but I liked it - they were unpredictable, they were changing, and they were also learning from their own mistakes (or not).
It was the same with Amber. She was incredibly likeable and realistic, and very easy to relate to. She did things that were good for her in this particular moment, without thinking about consequences but she has never buried her head in the sand. Sure, there were moments that I so wanted to shake her and ask, girl, what the hell are you doing?????, but there were also moments that I could only keep my fingers crossed for her. I haven't felt such involvement as in her life for a long time when reading books, and it was absolutely brilliant feeling!
I'm not saying that this what Amber did was OK, but it was also not the easiest situation for her. Her relationship with Ned was not a bed of roses and to be honest, I was absolutely on Amber's side on this one. What I absolutely applauded was the fact that this marriage was written in such a realistic way, and Paige told everything as it really was, with all the insecurities and problems. Perhaps running away was not the best idea, because you can't solve your problems via telephone, but this time the circumstances were a little different and Amber must have leave Ned and England. So arriving in Australia and almost straight into Ethan's arms, it's no wonder that she feels this old attraction to him. And the situation is favourable - Ethan is separated from his wife and they're going to get a divorce and Amber... well, Amber doesn't know what to do with her life and her marriage.
I'm totally lost in admiration how complicated the author made the characters' lives. The more I read, the more I though there can't be a happy end because no matter what, somebody is going to be hurt. And I literally couldn't wait to see how Paige is going to solve it!
What Paige did with this sub - plot is amazing. I am sure that most of the readers will fell for Ethan and his forbidden relationship with Amber as much as I did. The way he treated her, when we had always in mind how moody Ned was on telephone, it just seemed somehow right, we had a feeling that Amber deserved this unconditional adoration. However, not everything is so simple in life and of course, there are other sides of the story - but me, well, I stick with Amber. She was not perfect, she's made a lot of mistakes, but in fact none of the characters in the book are perfect, which in my eyes make them much more realistic and likeable - who of us doesn't make mistakes or take wrong decisions?
The final decision of Amber may also seem controversial, but - again - I am fully with her on this decision.
Paige has this incredible talent to interweave so many different, heart - breaking stories into one, fantastic book that doesn't feel sad or depressing at all. On the contrary, while we are not absolutely sure if this novel is going to end with happy end, there is still this optimistic feeling to it, and we hope till the last page that everything is going to end well. There were many emotional moments that really had me on a verge of tears, for example seeing Amber's father coping with his stroke, seeing Amber and Liz trying to come to terms with his inability to live independently, or reading about the car accident or what Amber's mother had to say, to name a few, but on the whole there is a beautiful feeling of hope and new beginnings to this book.
This story went totally different way to this that I expected. After reading the blurb I was sure that it is going to be about the search for Amber and that maybe then it will be all about the words she was going to hear. But no, this was in fact a small part of the book, even though it influenced Amber and her life greatly. It really hurt to see how much the events from the past influenced her and how and what she kept in her memory, and how insecure it made her feel. So yes, the story was full of brilliant twists and turns and it really took me on a very hooking journey, a journey full of emotions, often forbidden emotions, secrets, guiltiness and love, unconditional love. The mystery words that I expected to be something totally different have so taken me by surprise and I swear, my eyes were full of tears when I eventually heard what they were, what was the last message from Amber's mother to her daughter. I, in fact, can feel my eyes welling up when I'm writing it right now - it was beautiful. Beautiful!
Altogether, yes, I absolutely loved this book. It was perfect for me. The writing is so typical Paige's - gentle, light, easy to follow. There is enough tension and the plot is so complex, Paige didn't take the easiest way, as usually, and made the lives of the characters really complicated - and I bow down to her because it isn't for sure easy to write such a book, full of difficult decisions to be made, where in fact no way out of them is a good way. This is really a book that is going to stay with you for longer and it is an absolute must read this summer!
Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.
Amber is living in the UK with her husband. She's a maths teacher, but the last years she's been working as a broker, and has just been made redundant. On the same day she also receives a phone call from Australia, from her father's partner Liz, that he had a stroke and is in hospital. Amber heads home immediately, leaving Ned behind. Lately the situation was a little tense between them, as Ned is working with Zara, and Amber is sure that Zara has the hots for her husband, and it leads to many misunderstanding between the couple. And - in Australia, there is Ethan, Amber's best friend for ever, since they were kids, and a man she fell for, but nobody knows about her feelings, especially not Ethan...
Australia is still a very exciting continent for me and I'd love to visit it one day, really, so I truly enjoyed the setting of this book and Paige's descriptions of the place, which were so vivid, no matter if the characters were sitting in the bar or were somewhere outside the town, visiting properties and vineyards, keeping an eye on the snakes and watching the kangaroos.
One of the strength of this book is the fact that the characters are not so obvious and that they are so complex. I was changing my mind about them more than once, especially about Ethan, who was absolutely charming and lovely at the beginning, hell, a sex - god with those green eyes, but who turned out to be not this kind of person that I thought - I don't like people playing with other people's feelings! It was really like a rollercoaster ride with Ethan and my feelings to him, once we were high and then suddenly he did or said something (or rather, didn't do or say!) and we were deep, deep down. But it was the same with Ned - at first he stroke me as a whingy, moody person and through the bigger part of the story I was thinking, boy, how did Amber end with you? You seem to only follow your own instinct, you don't consider what your wife has to say on the matters that affect you both, and you don't see so obvious things! But then Paige has taken us back in time and told us how Ned and Amber met, we got to know a little about his background, and then Ned himself came to his senses and he was again in my good books. It doesn't really happen often that I have such mixed feelings about the characters but I liked it - they were unpredictable, they were changing, and they were also learning from their own mistakes (or not).
It was the same with Amber. She was incredibly likeable and realistic, and very easy to relate to. She did things that were good for her in this particular moment, without thinking about consequences but she has never buried her head in the sand. Sure, there were moments that I so wanted to shake her and ask, girl, what the hell are you doing?????, but there were also moments that I could only keep my fingers crossed for her. I haven't felt such involvement as in her life for a long time when reading books, and it was absolutely brilliant feeling!
I'm not saying that this what Amber did was OK, but it was also not the easiest situation for her. Her relationship with Ned was not a bed of roses and to be honest, I was absolutely on Amber's side on this one. What I absolutely applauded was the fact that this marriage was written in such a realistic way, and Paige told everything as it really was, with all the insecurities and problems. Perhaps running away was not the best idea, because you can't solve your problems via telephone, but this time the circumstances were a little different and Amber must have leave Ned and England. So arriving in Australia and almost straight into Ethan's arms, it's no wonder that she feels this old attraction to him. And the situation is favourable - Ethan is separated from his wife and they're going to get a divorce and Amber... well, Amber doesn't know what to do with her life and her marriage.
I'm totally lost in admiration how complicated the author made the characters' lives. The more I read, the more I though there can't be a happy end because no matter what, somebody is going to be hurt. And I literally couldn't wait to see how Paige is going to solve it!
What Paige did with this sub - plot is amazing. I am sure that most of the readers will fell for Ethan and his forbidden relationship with Amber as much as I did. The way he treated her, when we had always in mind how moody Ned was on telephone, it just seemed somehow right, we had a feeling that Amber deserved this unconditional adoration. However, not everything is so simple in life and of course, there are other sides of the story - but me, well, I stick with Amber. She was not perfect, she's made a lot of mistakes, but in fact none of the characters in the book are perfect, which in my eyes make them much more realistic and likeable - who of us doesn't make mistakes or take wrong decisions?
The final decision of Amber may also seem controversial, but - again - I am fully with her on this decision.
Paige has this incredible talent to interweave so many different, heart - breaking stories into one, fantastic book that doesn't feel sad or depressing at all. On the contrary, while we are not absolutely sure if this novel is going to end with happy end, there is still this optimistic feeling to it, and we hope till the last page that everything is going to end well. There were many emotional moments that really had me on a verge of tears, for example seeing Amber's father coping with his stroke, seeing Amber and Liz trying to come to terms with his inability to live independently, or reading about the car accident or what Amber's mother had to say, to name a few, but on the whole there is a beautiful feeling of hope and new beginnings to this book.
This story went totally different way to this that I expected. After reading the blurb I was sure that it is going to be about the search for Amber and that maybe then it will be all about the words she was going to hear. But no, this was in fact a small part of the book, even though it influenced Amber and her life greatly. It really hurt to see how much the events from the past influenced her and how and what she kept in her memory, and how insecure it made her feel. So yes, the story was full of brilliant twists and turns and it really took me on a very hooking journey, a journey full of emotions, often forbidden emotions, secrets, guiltiness and love, unconditional love. The mystery words that I expected to be something totally different have so taken me by surprise and I swear, my eyes were full of tears when I eventually heard what they were, what was the last message from Amber's mother to her daughter. I, in fact, can feel my eyes welling up when I'm writing it right now - it was beautiful. Beautiful!
Altogether, yes, I absolutely loved this book. It was perfect for me. The writing is so typical Paige's - gentle, light, easy to follow. There is enough tension and the plot is so complex, Paige didn't take the easiest way, as usually, and made the lives of the characters really complicated - and I bow down to her because it isn't for sure easy to write such a book, full of difficult decisions to be made, where in fact no way out of them is a good way. This is really a book that is going to stay with you for longer and it is an absolute must read this summer!
Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.
February 15, 2018
Just like all of Paige Toon's other books, this was a very quick and overall enjoyable read. But I think I've said this before about books with similar topics and I also have to say it about "The Sun in her Eyes", I do have a problem with cheating in books.
Well, I don't necessarily have a problem with it, especially not if it just happens once in a book and if characters are honest about it. But I do have a problem with it once cheating becomes a big part of the plot of a novel and is used as a plot device which unfortunately was the case in this book.
So even though I overall enjoyed this book and didn't have to force myself to finish it or anything, I definitely have to deduct a star because of the fact that cheating was such a prominent topic. Furthermore, I also felt like I just didn't enjoy this book as much as some of Paige Toon's other books I've recently read and given four stars to which is why I decided to give this novel a three out of five stars.
Well, I don't necessarily have a problem with it, especially not if it just happens once in a book and if characters are honest about it. But I do have a problem with it once cheating becomes a big part of the plot of a novel and is used as a plot device which unfortunately was the case in this book.
So even though I overall enjoyed this book and didn't have to force myself to finish it or anything, I definitely have to deduct a star because of the fact that cheating was such a prominent topic. Furthermore, I also felt like I just didn't enjoy this book as much as some of Paige Toon's other books I've recently read and given four stars to which is why I decided to give this novel a three out of five stars.
May 21, 2015
I am really not very good at putting what I feel into words, but I'll give it a go...
We all know how I feel about this author. Anyone who has been following me for a while will know that Paige Toon is my favourite author and I love all of her books and this new release certainly did not disappoint.
I started this this morning and it took me about 4 hours to read - which is about how long it took me to read all of her other books. Whilst reading this, I started with the impression that I would not like the boy that the main character Amber was with at the start and that was true for most of the book. I was under the impression that this would be like some of her other books where the main character was with someone and then she went home and reconnected with a lost love and that would be that, but that wasn't the case with this book at all. Sure, I was completely rooting for her and Ethan because I liked their story together and I was hoping that they'd be endgame, but Paige Toon was clever with this one. She made me completely fall in love with Ethan and then she did something that I've never really seen her do before, she made me completely fall out of love with him because he was not a very nice character and that made me really dislike him. I'm glad that this happened though because it makes this book stand out to me.
Usually I find that I can predict the outcome of these books, but with this one I had no idea. At the start I was sure Amber was going to reconnect with Ethan and then we'd all just forget about Ned. That didn't happen and I started to really dislike Ethan and then really like Ned. I was pleased with the ending to this one and I'm glad she chose Ned.
I think that Paige Toon is a really beautiful writer and she's very clever with her writing. It's often predictable but then she does something that completely surprises you and I like that because it keeps you interested. I was completely engrossed in this book for 4 hours straight and I think I only put it down once and that was just to get another drink!
I'm fairly dedicated to this author and I often find myself rereading all of the other books that I own by her. That's when you know someone's a good writer.
I have very high hopes for the next book. It just sucks that I have to wait an entire year for it. At least the next book in her YA series comes out very soon!
We all know how I feel about this author. Anyone who has been following me for a while will know that Paige Toon is my favourite author and I love all of her books and this new release certainly did not disappoint.
I started this this morning and it took me about 4 hours to read - which is about how long it took me to read all of her other books. Whilst reading this, I started with the impression that I would not like the boy that the main character Amber was with at the start and that was true for most of the book. I was under the impression that this would be like some of her other books where the main character was with someone and then she went home and reconnected with a lost love and that would be that, but that wasn't the case with this book at all. Sure, I was completely rooting for her and Ethan because I liked their story together and I was hoping that they'd be endgame, but Paige Toon was clever with this one. She made me completely fall in love with Ethan and then she did something that I've never really seen her do before, she made me completely fall out of love with him because he was not a very nice character and that made me really dislike him. I'm glad that this happened though because it makes this book stand out to me.
Usually I find that I can predict the outcome of these books, but with this one I had no idea. At the start I was sure Amber was going to reconnect with Ethan and then we'd all just forget about Ned. That didn't happen and I started to really dislike Ethan and then really like Ned. I was pleased with the ending to this one and I'm glad she chose Ned.
I think that Paige Toon is a really beautiful writer and she's very clever with her writing. It's often predictable but then she does something that completely surprises you and I like that because it keeps you interested. I was completely engrossed in this book for 4 hours straight and I think I only put it down once and that was just to get another drink!
I'm fairly dedicated to this author and I often find myself rereading all of the other books that I own by her. That's when you know someone's a good writer.
I have very high hopes for the next book. It just sucks that I have to wait an entire year for it. At least the next book in her YA series comes out very soon!
August 7, 2022
The Sun In Her Eyes is another addictive read. It was nice to see a female character with a bit of a bad ass side, Amber is a one off. I liked her, and her flaws. Yes she makes massive mistakes, yes she's really quite bad at making decisions, but she came up trumps I thought.
I just get lost in these stories, I am yet to dislike a book by Toon (it will never happen surely)
Set mosly in Australia 🇦🇺 this one made me think back to lovely Lily and Ben in Pictires of Lily, where the inspiration of my bookmark came from 🐨
I just get lost in these stories, I am yet to dislike a book by Toon (it will never happen surely)
Set mosly in Australia 🇦🇺 this one made me think back to lovely Lily and Ben in Pictires of Lily, where the inspiration of my bookmark came from 🐨
January 21, 2022
Ich liebe eigentlich die Bücher von Paige Toon, aber habe jetzt schon Ewigkeiten kein Buch mehr von ihr gelesen und habe mich daher total auf "The Sun in her eyes" gefreut.
Von der Idee her hat mir das Buch eigentlich ganz gut gefallen und ich war sehr gespannt darauf herauszufinden was es mit dem Unfall von Amber in ihrer Kindheit auf sich hat. Dieser Teil war dann aber eher Neben- als Haupthandlung.
Meine größten Probleme hatte ich mit Amber und ihrem Verhalten sowie einiger ihrer Entscheidungen, die für mich weder akzeptabel noch nachvollziehbar waren. Zudem fand ich Ethan extrem unsympathisch und habe ihm nie so ganz getraut. Ned hingegen war zwar ein lieber Kerl, aber ist doch ein wenig blass geblieben.
Insgesamt hat die Geschichte gute Ansätze, aber im Gesamten konnte sie mich leider nicht so überzeugen und ich habe auch ein wenig was anderes erwartet.
Von der Idee her hat mir das Buch eigentlich ganz gut gefallen und ich war sehr gespannt darauf herauszufinden was es mit dem Unfall von Amber in ihrer Kindheit auf sich hat. Dieser Teil war dann aber eher Neben- als Haupthandlung.
Meine größten Probleme hatte ich mit Amber und ihrem Verhalten sowie einiger ihrer Entscheidungen, die für mich weder akzeptabel noch nachvollziehbar waren. Zudem fand ich Ethan extrem unsympathisch und habe ihm nie so ganz getraut. Ned hingegen war zwar ein lieber Kerl, aber ist doch ein wenig blass geblieben.
Insgesamt hat die Geschichte gute Ansätze, aber im Gesamten konnte sie mich leider nicht so überzeugen und ich habe auch ein wenig was anderes erwartet.
Read
August 21, 2015I just can't do it. I am such a big fan of Paige Toon but after 10 books the love triangles are starting to get boring. I never thought I would say that, buts it's true. I despise love triangles and just couldn't let myself get into this. Not to mention, Amber's a bit horrible isn't she? Her dad's had a stroke and she's more worried about seeing Ethan and one upping Liz. Dead mature. I miss the magic of Pictures of Lily and Chasing Daisy. :(
June 22, 2025
Definitely a page turner for me. I was deep into the characters drama and it was nice to get out of my current chaos. I enjoy her writing style and feel completely immersed in the story. And with this story, I could not see what was coming next!
I’ve heard this is not her best, but I’m reading them in date published order, of the ones I have. Five Years From Now is up next!
I’ve heard this is not her best, but I’m reading them in date published order, of the ones I have. Five Years From Now is up next!
May 16, 2015
I started reading The Sun in Her Eyes one lazy afternoon and read almost half of the book in one sitting. Our main character is Amber and not long after being made redundant, she receives a phone call from Australia telling her that her father has had a stroke. She heads Down Under pretty much straightaway, leaving behind husband Ned and heading straight for Ethan, the gorgeous, green-eyed man she once fell for, but who never loved her back... Australia is a country that I really want to visit, and I was pleased to discover that the majority of the book is set there. I loved the descriptions of Adelaide which really helped me to visualise this place where Amber grew up, and despite it being May as I read, and the weather outside being cold and miserable, this book was just the summery little pick me up that I needed.
Unusually, Amber isn't an instantly likeable character. Her relationship with Ned isn't that typical relationship that starts off 90% of Chick Lit novels where the girl is treated terribly by her boyfriend, only to leave him for the insanely gorgeous stud who just so happens to be waiting in the wings. Instead what we have is a realistic portrayal of a marriage, a couple who are experiencing doubts and insecurities that many a married couple before them have probably experienced. Throw in the first man she ever fell in love with and as Amber herself says, she's in trouble.
The attraction Amber felt towards Ethan was understandable, and readers will probably end up wanting to throw themselves at him also. The way the story was written in the beginning meant that he was my favourite out of the two, forbidden love always being the most exciting kind of romance to read about. I did feel though that only seeing things from Amber's point of view made things very one-sided, and it would have been nice to hear more from Ethan and Ned. None of the characters in this book are perfect, but I think that was the great thing about it, because all of them felt real and believable.
I had a couple of ideas of where the story would go, and I was completely wrong most of the time. I think it's because I was expecting some brilliant twists, especially as the blurb hints at hidden secrets or some kind of mystery. That never really materialised but - without being able to discuss it too much - I think the story is about so much more than that, but you'll have to read it for yourself to see what I mean and in the end I really loved what the 'secret' turned out to be, and the real meaning behind it. Very early on I had a completely 'out there' thought at what I thought a twist could be, but as the book progressed, let's just say I was glad I was wrong! Ultimately The Sun in Her Eyes is a really enjoyable story, the beauty of it perhaps being a little bit understated and there are some rather emotional moments as story nears its conclusion. I really hope we might meet these characters again one day, which given that Paige Toon does like to let us know what her previous characters are up to, I think there's a fair chance that we will.
Unusually, Amber isn't an instantly likeable character. Her relationship with Ned isn't that typical relationship that starts off 90% of Chick Lit novels where the girl is treated terribly by her boyfriend, only to leave him for the insanely gorgeous stud who just so happens to be waiting in the wings. Instead what we have is a realistic portrayal of a marriage, a couple who are experiencing doubts and insecurities that many a married couple before them have probably experienced. Throw in the first man she ever fell in love with and as Amber herself says, she's in trouble.
The attraction Amber felt towards Ethan was understandable, and readers will probably end up wanting to throw themselves at him also. The way the story was written in the beginning meant that he was my favourite out of the two, forbidden love always being the most exciting kind of romance to read about. I did feel though that only seeing things from Amber's point of view made things very one-sided, and it would have been nice to hear more from Ethan and Ned. None of the characters in this book are perfect, but I think that was the great thing about it, because all of them felt real and believable.
I had a couple of ideas of where the story would go, and I was completely wrong most of the time. I think it's because I was expecting some brilliant twists, especially as the blurb hints at hidden secrets or some kind of mystery. That never really materialised but - without being able to discuss it too much - I think the story is about so much more than that, but you'll have to read it for yourself to see what I mean and in the end I really loved what the 'secret' turned out to be, and the real meaning behind it. Very early on I had a completely 'out there' thought at what I thought a twist could be, but as the book progressed, let's just say I was glad I was wrong! Ultimately The Sun in Her Eyes is a really enjoyable story, the beauty of it perhaps being a little bit understated and there are some rather emotional moments as story nears its conclusion. I really hope we might meet these characters again one day, which given that Paige Toon does like to let us know what her previous characters are up to, I think there's a fair chance that we will.
August 22, 2021
this was.... terrible. utter garbage. really just not good at all. god where do i start - i’m going to have to make this a spoiler otherwise i won’t be able to vent.
ok first of all the whole mysterious last words subplot - what the actual fuck was that? it served as an interesting opener but then was literally fucking IGNORED until halfway through the book with this little chapter that was supposed to be suspense inducing ig but it genuinely made me angry. and oh god the reveal - “tell her i love her” jesus fucking christ throw me a fucking bone here paige. the big last words that you made everyone assume would be crucial to the plot of this book is just that the random woman named her toy sheep that she literally forgot existed? fuck off. it literally had NOTHING to do with anything she baited me. and the title is literally about this subplot too? god damn.
onto the characters - jesus christ amber is unlikeable. it is really difficult to sympathise with or defend a character that you genuinely just fucking despise like... you’re in love with a boy from when you were 15!! you’re both fucking married??? what the fuck? there was genuinely no sex appeal and i KINDA get the near death experience let’s fuck a guy i always had a crush on whatever - but girlie kept going knowing her husband was calling her trying to get her to come home. and then the pregnancy? my GOD just fucking buy a coat hanger and shut up why did you expect this man who cheated on his pregnant wife because she was fat to fucking doll up and build a house for you? she does not have a single redeemable trait.
ALSO POOR NED !! she fucking paints him as a villain the WHOLE TIME but he’s the only sane character and she just NEVER FUCKING TELLS HIM ABOUT THE AFFAIR? “I never told him about my affair with Ethan. When I really think it through, I believe he would ultimately forgive me.” UM?? WOULD HE??? you went on the whole fucking time about how you can’t tell him because he would divorce you instantly my god. and she justifies this affair why again? because she thinks his boss has a crush on him (to be fair she does) but she doesn’t even feel fucking guilty until she realises that Ethan is a serial cheater.
other characters i like include liz - it’s a bad sign when i take the side of the ‘bitchy step-mother’ who actually ISNT a bitch? at all? amber is a fucking twat and she was one as a kid too i genuinely don’t know what the author was going for. i’m so fucking mad. i also love ned - he’s a cutie and a dork so i have a weak spot for that xx and i like her dad as well.
ok rant aside it was an easy read - i didn’t have to put down the book in anger surprisingly enough and shes got a nice little writing style but god the content was just rubbish. it’s just hard for me to digest a novel where the main character is flawed past the point of being believable. nice time killer though
ok first of all the whole mysterious last words subplot - what the actual fuck was that? it served as an interesting opener but then was literally fucking IGNORED until halfway through the book with this little chapter that was supposed to be suspense inducing ig but it genuinely made me angry. and oh god the reveal - “tell her i love her” jesus fucking christ throw me a fucking bone here paige. the big last words that you made everyone assume would be crucial to the plot of this book is just that the random woman named her toy sheep that she literally forgot existed? fuck off. it literally had NOTHING to do with anything she baited me. and the title is literally about this subplot too? god damn.
onto the characters - jesus christ amber is unlikeable. it is really difficult to sympathise with or defend a character that you genuinely just fucking despise like... you’re in love with a boy from when you were 15!! you’re both fucking married??? what the fuck? there was genuinely no sex appeal and i KINDA get the near death experience let’s fuck a guy i always had a crush on whatever - but girlie kept going knowing her husband was calling her trying to get her to come home. and then the pregnancy? my GOD just fucking buy a coat hanger and shut up why did you expect this man who cheated on his pregnant wife because she was fat to fucking doll up and build a house for you? she does not have a single redeemable trait.
ALSO POOR NED !! she fucking paints him as a villain the WHOLE TIME but he’s the only sane character and she just NEVER FUCKING TELLS HIM ABOUT THE AFFAIR? “I never told him about my affair with Ethan. When I really think it through, I believe he would ultimately forgive me.” UM?? WOULD HE??? you went on the whole fucking time about how you can’t tell him because he would divorce you instantly my god. and she justifies this affair why again? because she thinks his boss has a crush on him (to be fair she does) but she doesn’t even feel fucking guilty until she realises that Ethan is a serial cheater.
other characters i like include liz - it’s a bad sign when i take the side of the ‘bitchy step-mother’ who actually ISNT a bitch? at all? amber is a fucking twat and she was one as a kid too i genuinely don’t know what the author was going for. i’m so fucking mad. i also love ned - he’s a cutie and a dork so i have a weak spot for that xx and i like her dad as well.
ok rant aside it was an easy read - i didn’t have to put down the book in anger surprisingly enough and shes got a nice little writing style but god the content was just rubbish. it’s just hard for me to digest a novel where the main character is flawed past the point of being believable. nice time killer though
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2015
I have read all of Paige Toon’s books and eagerly await the release of her new book each year. As soon as The Sun in Her Eyes landed on my door mat I had to stop my current read and start reading it straight away!
Amber has just been made redundant but she doesn’t have time to sit and wallow as she receives a phone call to say her father who lives in Australia has had a stroke so she has to fly over to help him but her husband Ned has work commitments and can not join her.
Back in her childhood home town she soon meets her old best friend Ethan who she has always secretly loved and as she sets eyes on him again she soon realises she still feels the same way but is the past always best left in the past or is it time to follow her heart.
I read this book in one sitting, the storyline seemed lighter than Paige’s previous books but this was perfect for a lazy day reading in the sun. I warmed to Amber quite quickly which I have always done with all of the author previous main characters and although as the storyline progresses she makes some very bad decisions I still really liked her as a character as she wasn’t a malicious character she just seemed to follow her heart at times rather than her head.
I was surprised mostly by my thoughts on the two male love interests in this book, Ned who is Amber’s husband and Ethan who was her childhood crush, I instantly took a dislike to Ned but when we meet Ethan I was charmed by him but by the time we are over half way through the book my opinion of both of these men took a complete turn and I found myself willing Amber to make the right decision.
I loved the detail the author went into surrounding the winery and she also set the scene beautifully in Australia it was easy to visualise the setting. The author builds up a great deal of suspense in this book about a message that was left for Amber as a child just before her mother died, I had so many ideas in my head as to what this could be but I was completely over thinking things and didn’t guess the message!
This was another great book by Paige Toon although it wasn’t a favourite of mine, Baby Be Mine and The Longest Holiday was always going to be hard to beat in my eyes, I would still recommend this book and Paige Toon fans will not be disappointed.
Amber has just been made redundant but she doesn’t have time to sit and wallow as she receives a phone call to say her father who lives in Australia has had a stroke so she has to fly over to help him but her husband Ned has work commitments and can not join her.
Back in her childhood home town she soon meets her old best friend Ethan who she has always secretly loved and as she sets eyes on him again she soon realises she still feels the same way but is the past always best left in the past or is it time to follow her heart.
I read this book in one sitting, the storyline seemed lighter than Paige’s previous books but this was perfect for a lazy day reading in the sun. I warmed to Amber quite quickly which I have always done with all of the author previous main characters and although as the storyline progresses she makes some very bad decisions I still really liked her as a character as she wasn’t a malicious character she just seemed to follow her heart at times rather than her head.
I was surprised mostly by my thoughts on the two male love interests in this book, Ned who is Amber’s husband and Ethan who was her childhood crush, I instantly took a dislike to Ned but when we meet Ethan I was charmed by him but by the time we are over half way through the book my opinion of both of these men took a complete turn and I found myself willing Amber to make the right decision.
I loved the detail the author went into surrounding the winery and she also set the scene beautifully in Australia it was easy to visualise the setting. The author builds up a great deal of suspense in this book about a message that was left for Amber as a child just before her mother died, I had so many ideas in my head as to what this could be but I was completely over thinking things and didn’t guess the message!
This was another great book by Paige Toon although it wasn’t a favourite of mine, Baby Be Mine and The Longest Holiday was always going to be hard to beat in my eyes, I would still recommend this book and Paige Toon fans will not be disappointed.
May 13, 2015
Hurrah! Hallelujah! And all manner of other exciting exclamations…PAIGE IS BACK!
After waiting a whole bloomin’ year for another delight from Toon, I couldn’t wait to tuck into her latest offering when the very lovely Dawn from Simon & Schuster sent me an early copy. I wish Paige was in some way super-human so she could write a new book every week – I just can’t get enough of her writing!
The Sun In Her Eyes centres around Amber who, after hearing her dad has suffered with a stroke, flies back home to Adelaide to be with him and her step-mum Liz. Leaving behind her husband Ned and after being made redundant from her job, Amber takes the time to work out what she really wants from life. But when she meets Ethan, a man who was her first love and still has a huge chunk of her heart, her view on what she really wants becomes skewed. With the scorching Australian sunshine, vineyards, hospital appointments with her dad, evenings spent with old friends and concerns about her husbands fidelity, Amber is faced with one of the toughest summers of her life.
I don’t really need to say all that much more because whenever I review one of Paige’s books I find myself repeating the same thing over and over. The writing is fabulous, the tension is perfect, the characters are intriguing and are far from perfect which makes them feel so real.
What I loved most about The Sun In Her Eyes was the way in which Paige weaved so many heartbreaking story-lines into a novel which ultimately had a happy ending. It was sobering to see how Amber coped with the rehabilitation of her father after his stroke and how the simple things we take for granted each day can be so easily wiped out. (It’s also quite topical after the news yesterday reported that more and more middle aged men are becoming victims to strokes.) We also are faced with the car crash that killed Amber’s mother which brought a tear to my eye. Such huge, life changing scenarios were dealt with perfectly within the narrative and this is a skill Paige shows time and time again.
I loved the protagonist. Amber was a real challenge because at times I just wanted to shake her and say ‘NOOOOOOO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!’ and at other times I wanted her to be bolder and really go after what she wanted. Characters that get you so involved in their lives are the best kind and I felt like Amber’s friend by the end of the book which is always a lovely, lovely feeling.
The male characters in this book are, as always, flippin’ gorgeous! Ethan was this notorious bad boy who had a real charm to him and I fell in love with him pretty quickly! Ned is a character we don’t see or hear as much of, but when we find out all about how Amber and Ned first met, fell in love and got married, I couldn’t help but fall a little bit in love with Ned too! Poor Amber having to choose between the two…!
Now, is this Paige’s best book to date?
Personally, I’m going to say a very difficult no. After Pictures of Lily and Thirteen Weddings, it was always going to take a LOT to write something even better! Whilst The Sun In Her Eyes isn’t Paige’s ‘best’ book, it is still an absolute corker which should definitely be in your summer holiday reading pile. Regardless of what has come before, Paige writes with such warmth, humour and intelligence that you can’t help but fall in love with the book in your hands.
A perfect summer story that will whisk you away to the warmth of Australia and have you hankering after a nice cold glass of wine and a burning orange sunset. A must read for this summer.
After waiting a whole bloomin’ year for another delight from Toon, I couldn’t wait to tuck into her latest offering when the very lovely Dawn from Simon & Schuster sent me an early copy. I wish Paige was in some way super-human so she could write a new book every week – I just can’t get enough of her writing!
The Sun In Her Eyes centres around Amber who, after hearing her dad has suffered with a stroke, flies back home to Adelaide to be with him and her step-mum Liz. Leaving behind her husband Ned and after being made redundant from her job, Amber takes the time to work out what she really wants from life. But when she meets Ethan, a man who was her first love and still has a huge chunk of her heart, her view on what she really wants becomes skewed. With the scorching Australian sunshine, vineyards, hospital appointments with her dad, evenings spent with old friends and concerns about her husbands fidelity, Amber is faced with one of the toughest summers of her life.
I don’t really need to say all that much more because whenever I review one of Paige’s books I find myself repeating the same thing over and over. The writing is fabulous, the tension is perfect, the characters are intriguing and are far from perfect which makes them feel so real.
What I loved most about The Sun In Her Eyes was the way in which Paige weaved so many heartbreaking story-lines into a novel which ultimately had a happy ending. It was sobering to see how Amber coped with the rehabilitation of her father after his stroke and how the simple things we take for granted each day can be so easily wiped out. (It’s also quite topical after the news yesterday reported that more and more middle aged men are becoming victims to strokes.) We also are faced with the car crash that killed Amber’s mother which brought a tear to my eye. Such huge, life changing scenarios were dealt with perfectly within the narrative and this is a skill Paige shows time and time again.
I loved the protagonist. Amber was a real challenge because at times I just wanted to shake her and say ‘NOOOOOOO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!’ and at other times I wanted her to be bolder and really go after what she wanted. Characters that get you so involved in their lives are the best kind and I felt like Amber’s friend by the end of the book which is always a lovely, lovely feeling.
The male characters in this book are, as always, flippin’ gorgeous! Ethan was this notorious bad boy who had a real charm to him and I fell in love with him pretty quickly! Ned is a character we don’t see or hear as much of, but when we find out all about how Amber and Ned first met, fell in love and got married, I couldn’t help but fall a little bit in love with Ned too! Poor Amber having to choose between the two…!
Now, is this Paige’s best book to date?
Personally, I’m going to say a very difficult no. After Pictures of Lily and Thirteen Weddings, it was always going to take a LOT to write something even better! Whilst The Sun In Her Eyes isn’t Paige’s ‘best’ book, it is still an absolute corker which should definitely be in your summer holiday reading pile. Regardless of what has come before, Paige writes with such warmth, humour and intelligence that you can’t help but fall in love with the book in your hands.
A perfect summer story that will whisk you away to the warmth of Australia and have you hankering after a nice cold glass of wine and a burning orange sunset. A must read for this summer.
October 31, 2018
The prologue started promising with a stranger discussing ''You'll have to tell her'' what her mum's dying words were.
Amber Church can't remember her mum she was so young when she died in a car accident. Amber is living with husband Ned in London, they are having a few problems but I believe their marriage is built to last I like Ned.
Amber is called back to Adelaide where he father has had a stroke. He is being looked after by Liz (her father's partner). Liz and Amber did not have the best relationship in the past. To be honest I didn't find her that bad a little annoying but not a bad person.
When in Adelaide Amber meets the boy she loved Ethan who she still loves now he's a man. I agree with her dad about him not being good enough. The thing is though Amber it could be said she isn't good enough for Ned. The cheating begins after a bush fire and takes over the story it's like it's the only story now. Your dad has just had a stroke and all you can think about is Ethan, Ned loves you and all you want is Ethan. Amber does get on my nerves throughout the book. After the bush fire Ned calls saying I could have lost you, well he could have in another way as well at this point. Ned tells her the truth about the work colleague who fancies him and makes a pass a shame she can't as well the closest she comes is I want a divorce when she doesn't really want one.
I love the back story's of the love story of Ned and Amber. I like the pairing it's a shame the Ethan affair had to get in the way of nearly the whole book. It's sad to read about the miscarriage and the nightmare at the school. I love the proposal at Key West and the mention of Leo. At this point of the book I'm just thinking go and sort things out with Ned, stay clear of Ethan. At first it's thought Amber is pregnant with Ethan but no it ends up being Ned. I don't know who in the right mind would have wanted to cheat with Ethan when they have Ned. Ned was just so normal and nice to me.
Regarding the car crash out of the blue Amber thinks she caused the crash that killed her mum then a mysterious letter arrives from the stranger about her mum's last words. The last words were a little of a letdown it's like they became an afterthought to the cheating.
In the end Amber doesn't tell Ned about her affair with Ethan. You could see it two ways she's being really untruthful or what he doesn't know won't hurt him. I still feel a little for Ned not knowing the full truth even though he'll be happy as a dad. It's like he's living in a bubble on the other side of the world not knowing half the things that went on in Oz when Amber was there. I wouldn't be happy at constantly being on edge every-time I saw Ethan when visiting Oz. Amber really isn't my favourite of Paige Toon's characters I like it when i can connect with a character and feel I am a little like them in the situation I didn't feel this with Amber.
The book focused too much on cheating but I still found it an easy read.
Amber Church can't remember her mum she was so young when she died in a car accident. Amber is living with husband Ned in London, they are having a few problems but I believe their marriage is built to last I like Ned.
Amber is called back to Adelaide where he father has had a stroke. He is being looked after by Liz (her father's partner). Liz and Amber did not have the best relationship in the past. To be honest I didn't find her that bad a little annoying but not a bad person.
When in Adelaide Amber meets the boy she loved Ethan who she still loves now he's a man. I agree with her dad about him not being good enough. The thing is though Amber it could be said she isn't good enough for Ned. The cheating begins after a bush fire and takes over the story it's like it's the only story now. Your dad has just had a stroke and all you can think about is Ethan, Ned loves you and all you want is Ethan. Amber does get on my nerves throughout the book. After the bush fire Ned calls saying I could have lost you, well he could have in another way as well at this point. Ned tells her the truth about the work colleague who fancies him and makes a pass a shame she can't as well the closest she comes is I want a divorce when she doesn't really want one.
I love the back story's of the love story of Ned and Amber. I like the pairing it's a shame the Ethan affair had to get in the way of nearly the whole book. It's sad to read about the miscarriage and the nightmare at the school. I love the proposal at Key West and the mention of Leo. At this point of the book I'm just thinking go and sort things out with Ned, stay clear of Ethan. At first it's thought Amber is pregnant with Ethan but no it ends up being Ned. I don't know who in the right mind would have wanted to cheat with Ethan when they have Ned. Ned was just so normal and nice to me.
Regarding the car crash out of the blue Amber thinks she caused the crash that killed her mum then a mysterious letter arrives from the stranger about her mum's last words. The last words were a little of a letdown it's like they became an afterthought to the cheating.
In the end Amber doesn't tell Ned about her affair with Ethan. You could see it two ways she's being really untruthful or what he doesn't know won't hurt him. I still feel a little for Ned not knowing the full truth even though he'll be happy as a dad. It's like he's living in a bubble on the other side of the world not knowing half the things that went on in Oz when Amber was there. I wouldn't be happy at constantly being on edge every-time I saw Ethan when visiting Oz. Amber really isn't my favourite of Paige Toon's characters I like it when i can connect with a character and feel I am a little like them in the situation I didn't feel this with Amber.
The book focused too much on cheating but I still found it an easy read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2015
I have very mixed feelings about the story in this book. I adore Paige Toon and can easily recommend any of her books to others, this one is no exception. Nevertheless, I still don't know what to think of the story. Without spoiling anything, the beginning of the story reminded me a little of Lucy In The Sky, but things would have been too obvious (unfaithful husband, childhood crush in Australia, etc.). While reading, I (almost) threw the book at the wall/subway/passenger several times, because the situation of the main character Amber was so messed up. But Paige wouldn't be Paige if she didn't find the perfect way too end the book and I could make my peace with the story.
No candidate to push my three favorite stories of my favorite chick-lit author off the winner's podium, but a very entertaining read nonetheless.
Ps: Thank you Germany for always releasing Paige Toon books earlier than in other countries. This way I never get spoiled. :-)
No candidate to push my three favorite stories of my favorite chick-lit author off the winner's podium, but a very entertaining read nonetheless.
Ps: Thank you Germany for always releasing Paige Toon books earlier than in other countries. This way I never get spoiled. :-)
March 26, 2019
Ich habe bisher kein Buch von Paige Toon verpasst. Ich mag ihren Schreibstil, der sehr fließend und super angenehm ist. Die Seiten fliegen nur so davon und letztendlich ist das Buch schneller ausgelesen, als man gucken kann. Die Geschichten sind insgesamt vielleicht nichts Besonderes, dafür aber unheimlich liebevoll und herzzerreißend beschrieben
Dies gilt natürlich auch für "Wer, wenn nicht du?".
Eine Geschichte um Amber, Ethan und Ned. Ich möchte nicht unerwähnt lassen, dass ich Liz (die Freundin von Ambers Vater) von Beginn an ins Herz geschlossen habe. Ich konnte oft nicht nachvollziehen, warum Amber und Liz so sehr gegeneinander arbeiten, wenn es doch so einfach sein könnte. Wie dem auch sei: die Charaktere wurden von der Autorin sehr ausführlich und interessant beschrieben. Meine Meinung über Ethan hat sich im Laufe der Geschichte total gewandelt. Dasselbe gilt für Ned. Ich bin froh, dass Amber am Ende auf allen Ebenen angekommen und glücklich ist. Im gesamten Verlauf habe ich mit ihr mitgefiebert, mit ihr gelacht und mit ihr geweint.
"Wer, wenn nicht du?" ist (wie immer) ein gelungenes Buch von Paige Toon, das sich flüssig und locker lesen lässt. Weil "Du bist mein Stern" aber nicht zu toppen ist, verteile ich an dieser Stelle "nur" vier Sterne.
Ich freue mich auf das nächste Buch der Autorin, das bereits im Juni 2019 erscheinen soll :)
Dies gilt natürlich auch für "Wer, wenn nicht du?".
Eine Geschichte um Amber, Ethan und Ned. Ich möchte nicht unerwähnt lassen, dass ich Liz (die Freundin von Ambers Vater) von Beginn an ins Herz geschlossen habe. Ich konnte oft nicht nachvollziehen, warum Amber und Liz so sehr gegeneinander arbeiten, wenn es doch so einfach sein könnte. Wie dem auch sei: die Charaktere wurden von der Autorin sehr ausführlich und interessant beschrieben. Meine Meinung über Ethan hat sich im Laufe der Geschichte total gewandelt. Dasselbe gilt für Ned. Ich bin froh, dass Amber am Ende auf allen Ebenen angekommen und glücklich ist. Im gesamten Verlauf habe ich mit ihr mitgefiebert, mit ihr gelacht und mit ihr geweint.
"Wer, wenn nicht du?" ist (wie immer) ein gelungenes Buch von Paige Toon, das sich flüssig und locker lesen lässt. Weil "Du bist mein Stern" aber nicht zu toppen ist, verteile ich an dieser Stelle "nur" vier Sterne.
Ich freue mich auf das nächste Buch der Autorin, das bereits im Juni 2019 erscheinen soll :)
November 23, 2018
I love Paige Toon books & this is only the second or third I’ve read so I have a few to go at!! Read this while sitting round the pool in November - perfect way to spend a couple of days.
Great story about Alice who goes back to Australia from London when her Dad has a stroke her marriage to Ned has been a struggle in the last year so when she meets up with her old friends from school including Ethan who has been her life long crush her head is all over the place. Great read!
Great story about Alice who goes back to Australia from London when her Dad has a stroke her marriage to Ned has been a struggle in the last year so when she meets up with her old friends from school including Ethan who has been her life long crush her head is all over the place. Great read!
October 3, 2015
Oh my god, I really wanted to like this book. But I couldn't.
I was annoyed right away by Amber's reaction in the beginning. You just lost your job AND your dad had a stroke and you immediately have those "mixed feelings" about Ethan before you even set off to Australia? Ah, ok.
And those exaggerating thoughts about Ethan is single/ omg I love him/ oh no but I'm married/ I love my husband/ but I never stopped loving Ethan. Bla. I can't handle those people. I just checked: It had been the same with "Baby be mine". That's a shame, because I don't want to not like Paige Toon's books.
The "stranger saying 'before your mother died, she asked me to tell you something'" part promised in the description was unfortunately very disappointing and unnecessary.
First of all, there was no sign of this part until about half the book or more. So I completely forgot about that and the book could totally have been just about the love chaos around Amber, Ethan and Ned.
So this old lady tries to contact Amber after 27 years, coincidentally in exactly those few weeks, in which she is back in Australia. Sure. I feel this part was just a desperate try to include something mysterious into the story. Something that nobody really cares about because the accident was 27 years ago. Conveniently Amber has these "flashbacks" around the same time.
And in the end, all this fuss just to hear that her mother loved her.
Doris was bothered for 27 (!) years, that she never told the 3 year old kid in person, that her mother loved her? I'm afraid, that's too unnecessary for me.
And then she suddenly died 1 week before Amber returns to Australia a year later. Too bad. But as fate would have it, the funeral took place the next day so Amber could say goodbye. ksdjfalksj. Wonderful :)
Now to the main story. I usually feel like I'm supposed to be on the main character's side - and often automatically am. But this time she was somehow annoying.
She is a bitch about Ned deciding to quit his job to do something else without her consent, but did exactly the same herself a few years ago? Ok? Then she is bitchy when he was kissed by another woman, stopped it (almost) immediately and was honest to Amber and told her. While, at the same time, she was actually cheating on him several times without telling him. Tz.
Ethan is such an a-hole. Cheating on you wife because she is fat and too insecure? Nice. I mean Amber does kind of the same, but why does she still trust him? Stupid.
Then she experiences him being annoyed by his kids. She likes kids, so she could have recognized at this point, that he's the wrong person for her. At least she got it after finding out that she's pregnant. I didn't really begrudge her for that. She somehow deserved to be in this delicate situation.
And suddenly it's Ned's baby. Problems solved. Yaaay. I thought you don't have your period while being pregnant. Seems to be possible, but there could have at least been offered an explanation for her "bleeding" in the meantime...
Finally, this over-happy end. Whoops - and every person in this book is either happily married/ will be soon/ or coincidentally got a proposal one week before.
So, this all sounds quite negative. Still 3 stars, because I don't want to be mean. It wasn't ALL bad.
I was annoyed right away by Amber's reaction in the beginning. You just lost your job AND your dad had a stroke and you immediately have those "mixed feelings" about Ethan before you even set off to Australia? Ah, ok.
And those exaggerating thoughts about Ethan is single/ omg I love him/ oh no but I'm married/ I love my husband/ but I never stopped loving Ethan. Bla. I can't handle those people. I just checked: It had been the same with "Baby be mine". That's a shame, because I don't want to not like Paige Toon's books.
The "stranger saying 'before your mother died, she asked me to tell you something'" part promised in the description was unfortunately very disappointing and unnecessary.
First of all, there was no sign of this part until about half the book or more. So I completely forgot about that and the book could totally have been just about the love chaos around Amber, Ethan and Ned.
So this old lady tries to contact Amber after 27 years, coincidentally in exactly those few weeks, in which she is back in Australia. Sure. I feel this part was just a desperate try to include something mysterious into the story. Something that nobody really cares about because the accident was 27 years ago. Conveniently Amber has these "flashbacks" around the same time.
And in the end, all this fuss just to hear that her mother loved her.
Doris was bothered for 27 (!) years, that she never told the 3 year old kid in person, that her mother loved her? I'm afraid, that's too unnecessary for me.
And then she suddenly died 1 week before Amber returns to Australia a year later. Too bad. But as fate would have it, the funeral took place the next day so Amber could say goodbye. ksdjfalksj. Wonderful :)
Now to the main story. I usually feel like I'm supposed to be on the main character's side - and often automatically am. But this time she was somehow annoying.
She is a bitch about Ned deciding to quit his job to do something else without her consent, but did exactly the same herself a few years ago? Ok? Then she is bitchy when he was kissed by another woman, stopped it (almost) immediately and was honest to Amber and told her. While, at the same time, she was actually cheating on him several times without telling him. Tz.
Ethan is such an a-hole. Cheating on you wife because she is fat and too insecure? Nice. I mean Amber does kind of the same, but why does she still trust him? Stupid.
Then she experiences him being annoyed by his kids. She likes kids, so she could have recognized at this point, that he's the wrong person for her. At least she got it after finding out that she's pregnant. I didn't really begrudge her for that. She somehow deserved to be in this delicate situation.
And suddenly it's Ned's baby. Problems solved. Yaaay. I thought you don't have your period while being pregnant. Seems to be possible, but there could have at least been offered an explanation for her "bleeding" in the meantime...
Finally, this over-happy end. Whoops - and every person in this book is either happily married/ will be soon/ or coincidentally got a proposal one week before.
So, this all sounds quite negative. Still 3 stars, because I don't want to be mean. It wasn't ALL bad.
June 17, 2015
*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Ok, yes I’m a big Paige Toon fan and I was waiting for this like a little child! Paige has a way to engage me as a reader and she did it again with this one!!!
The story follows Amber Church, who returns to Australia after her father had a stroke. She lives in London, with her husband Ned, bad sadly he couldn’t join her. He is busy with work and always goes for drinks with his boss Zara. Amber doesn’t like this… She also was just been made redundant, which is the perfect time to get away, but what will she do when she’s back?!
Being back means dealing with her dad’s partner Liz, they have never seen eye to eye and it also means seeing her friends again. One of them makes her feel nervous though, because she has been in love with him all her life. They have been great friends and he got married quiet early, so he doesn’t know how she feels.
Amber’s feelings for Ethan are still very strong and after spending a lot of time together one thing leads to another. But what about Ned and their marriage?!
When a letter arrives for her, she is about to discover something about her mum. This doesn’t make the situation easier. There is even more drama added to the story, which makes it all really exciting and gripping! I couldn’t put the book down, I was so hooked!
The characters are so well lined out and they have a lot of history. I really liked all of them. Amber and Ethan had great chemistry and I felt like being part of their story, they seemed so close. I fell for Ethan really fast, but then he confused me with some of his actions and decisions. Also Amber had her moments where I just thought: WHY OH WHY!!! This didn’t disturb me in the slightest though, it was part of the story and it also made it more interesting and fascinating.
The storyline is full of surprises and exciting moments, I enjoyed every single chapter and I was impressed with how Paige put it all together. I went through a range of emotions with this book and that’s what reading is about. Paige’s writing is brilliant and fabulous.
I loved chapter 35, because it was set in Key West <3. It was great to have Leo there. There were also some other mentions for Paige's previous books and I really love that about her stories. I had to laugh when I saw Ned's boss' name and of course there are some ties to Pictures of Lily <3.
At one point Ned joins her in Australia, I really liked him. I loved how some chapters were telling us how they met and what happened in their relationship. It made me understand their relationship better.
So is it Ned or Ethan?! I’m glad I didn’t have to make the decision, poor Amber though. Either way, I was a little surprised with the end and with some things that happened, but they made me happy. I guess I would have been happy with the other choice as well.
Paige’s writing is full of love, warmth, humour and cleverness! Just BRILLIANT and FABULOUS!!!
Ok, yes I’m a big Paige Toon fan and I was waiting for this like a little child! Paige has a way to engage me as a reader and she did it again with this one!!!
The story follows Amber Church, who returns to Australia after her father had a stroke. She lives in London, with her husband Ned, bad sadly he couldn’t join her. He is busy with work and always goes for drinks with his boss Zara. Amber doesn’t like this… She also was just been made redundant, which is the perfect time to get away, but what will she do when she’s back?!
Being back means dealing with her dad’s partner Liz, they have never seen eye to eye and it also means seeing her friends again. One of them makes her feel nervous though, because she has been in love with him all her life. They have been great friends and he got married quiet early, so he doesn’t know how she feels.
Amber’s feelings for Ethan are still very strong and after spending a lot of time together one thing leads to another. But what about Ned and their marriage?!
When a letter arrives for her, she is about to discover something about her mum. This doesn’t make the situation easier. There is even more drama added to the story, which makes it all really exciting and gripping! I couldn’t put the book down, I was so hooked!
The characters are so well lined out and they have a lot of history. I really liked all of them. Amber and Ethan had great chemistry and I felt like being part of their story, they seemed so close. I fell for Ethan really fast, but then he confused me with some of his actions and decisions. Also Amber had her moments where I just thought: WHY OH WHY!!! This didn’t disturb me in the slightest though, it was part of the story and it also made it more interesting and fascinating.
The storyline is full of surprises and exciting moments, I enjoyed every single chapter and I was impressed with how Paige put it all together. I went through a range of emotions with this book and that’s what reading is about. Paige’s writing is brilliant and fabulous.
I loved chapter 35, because it was set in Key West <3. It was great to have Leo there. There were also some other mentions for Paige's previous books and I really love that about her stories. I had to laugh when I saw Ned's boss' name and of course there are some ties to Pictures of Lily <3.
At one point Ned joins her in Australia, I really liked him. I loved how some chapters were telling us how they met and what happened in their relationship. It made me understand their relationship better.
So is it Ned or Ethan?! I’m glad I didn’t have to make the decision, poor Amber though. Either way, I was a little surprised with the end and with some things that happened, but they made me happy. I guess I would have been happy with the other choice as well.
Paige’s writing is full of love, warmth, humour and cleverness! Just BRILLIANT and FABULOUS!!!
May 28, 2015
This is my fourth or fifth book by the author and I have to admit my least favourite. I even liked Thirteen Weddings better and that didn't even have the ending I wanted but the story and characters got to me more.
I can't say I felt anything for Amber, maybe the fact that she was already married from the start and in a somewhat good marriage with Ned made me a little uncomfortable with what was going on with Ethan. If Ned hadn't been in the picture I would have been all over the Ethan and Amber storyline. Revisiting first-loves is fine by me, but not necessarily when you're quite happily married. If she'd been unhappy, sure.
As for the letter that Doris sent her asking to meet so she could hear the message her mum wanted to give her, I was alittle, make that a lot disappointed by that. I was expecting some big secret or something...
Despite not enjoying this as much as the others it has made me want to go on a Paige Toon book binge so I've hunted out all the ones I have but not read yet and will be reading Pictures of Lily first before moving onto Lucy in the Sky,One Perfect Summer,The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson and The Longest Holiday
I can't say I felt anything for Amber, maybe the fact that she was already married from the start and in a somewhat good marriage with Ned made me a little uncomfortable with what was going on with Ethan. If Ned hadn't been in the picture I would have been all over the Ethan and Amber storyline. Revisiting first-loves is fine by me, but not necessarily when you're quite happily married. If she'd been unhappy, sure.
As for the letter that Doris sent her asking to meet so she could hear the message her mum wanted to give her, I was a
Despite not enjoying this as much as the others it has made me want to go on a Paige Toon book binge so I've hunted out all the ones I have but not read yet and will be reading Pictures of Lily first before moving onto Lucy in the Sky,One Perfect Summer,The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson and The Longest Holiday
June 5, 2016
4 stars!
Another ChickLit novel that I picked up on a impulse buy without quite knowing what the story was all about. This is my first novel that I've read by Paige Toon but not the first novel that I've purchased that is written by her.
The Sun In Her Eyes divides time between Adelaide, South Australia and London, UK. For Amber, she is happily married to Ned but after being made redundant from her job and receiving a telephone call from Liz, a woman she has grown up with as Amber's dad's partner calls to deliver the news that he has suffered from a stroke, Amber flies there to be with him. Back in Australia, she helps Liz to nurse her sick father as well as meet up with old childhood friends and visiting her mother's grave. Amber's mum was killed in a accident with Amber was just three.
One person that Amber rekindles her contact with is old school student Ethan who she used to have a crush on. A man with two daughters and going through divorce procedures, Amber battles her old romantic thoughts for him as well as her love for husband Ned who is away on business.
A lot of things do take place within the novel. But one thing that does linger throughout is how one decision can change the lives of the people surrounding you. Amber has to face some tough decisions in order to move forward with her life either back in London or staying in Australia.
In the meantime, someone from Amber's past, tries to make contact with her because she has something to tell Amber.
It was an emotional and thought-provoking read. I did enjoy reading it and would read more novels by Paige Toon. I had no problems with the storyline but I wouldn't recommend the story for younger readers.
For more book reviews and posts, subscribe to my blog: www.marriedtobooksreviewsandblog.word... or tweet me @marriedtobooks3!
Another ChickLit novel that I picked up on a impulse buy without quite knowing what the story was all about. This is my first novel that I've read by Paige Toon but not the first novel that I've purchased that is written by her.
The Sun In Her Eyes divides time between Adelaide, South Australia and London, UK. For Amber, she is happily married to Ned but after being made redundant from her job and receiving a telephone call from Liz, a woman she has grown up with as Amber's dad's partner calls to deliver the news that he has suffered from a stroke, Amber flies there to be with him. Back in Australia, she helps Liz to nurse her sick father as well as meet up with old childhood friends and visiting her mother's grave. Amber's mum was killed in a accident with Amber was just three.
One person that Amber rekindles her contact with is old school student Ethan who she used to have a crush on. A man with two daughters and going through divorce procedures, Amber battles her old romantic thoughts for him as well as her love for husband Ned who is away on business.
A lot of things do take place within the novel. But one thing that does linger throughout is how one decision can change the lives of the people surrounding you. Amber has to face some tough decisions in order to move forward with her life either back in London or staying in Australia.
In the meantime, someone from Amber's past, tries to make contact with her because she has something to tell Amber.
It was an emotional and thought-provoking read. I did enjoy reading it and would read more novels by Paige Toon. I had no problems with the storyline but I wouldn't recommend the story for younger readers.
For more book reviews and posts, subscribe to my blog: www.marriedtobooksreviewsandblog.word... or tweet me @marriedtobooks3!
June 10, 2023
I have been on a binge reading marathon as I can’t get enough of Page Toon’s writing...well, until now! The book had a sweet premise, but once I started reading I took an instant dislike to Amber the main character. Like any dutiful daughter, she rushes to the other side of the world (Australia) when her dad has a life-threatening stroke. She seemed far more interested in going out, clubbing, getting drunk and seducing her childhood best friend! than helping with her dad’s rehab. Did I mention she has a husband, Ned back in London? Who she conveniently forgets about at every given opportunity!
The first time she cheats on Ned is during a bush fire. Most people would run fearing for their lives, but not Amber. She decides it’s the perfect opportunity to have sex with Ethan. Amber’s petulant, a hypocrite and irritating. Rather than help her stepmother, she takes every opportunity to be rude and obnoxious and throw strops. Her behaviour could be forgiven if she was a teenager rather than a 30-year-old woman. As for Ethan the less said the better.
I think one of the strengths of this author's writing is her ability to create characters you care about. But the characters in The Sun In Her Eyes lacked warmth, compassion and empathy. There was no connection on my part, so I didn’t care one way or another what happened to them. I think this book lacked the authors usual gut wrenching, heartfelt plots that I have come to adore. Definitely not my favourite book by the author by any means, but it hasn’t put me off moving on to my next Page Toon binge marathon read.
You can follow me on
http://www.twitter.com/@reviewcafe
Or read more of my reviews on my Instagram page at
https://www.instagram.com/thebookrevi...
The first time she cheats on Ned is during a bush fire. Most people would run fearing for their lives, but not Amber. She decides it’s the perfect opportunity to have sex with Ethan. Amber’s petulant, a hypocrite and irritating. Rather than help her stepmother, she takes every opportunity to be rude and obnoxious and throw strops. Her behaviour could be forgiven if she was a teenager rather than a 30-year-old woman. As for Ethan the less said the better.
I think one of the strengths of this author's writing is her ability to create characters you care about. But the characters in The Sun In Her Eyes lacked warmth, compassion and empathy. There was no connection on my part, so I didn’t care one way or another what happened to them. I think this book lacked the authors usual gut wrenching, heartfelt plots that I have come to adore. Definitely not my favourite book by the author by any means, but it hasn’t put me off moving on to my next Page Toon binge marathon read.
You can follow me on
http://www.twitter.com/@reviewcafe
Or read more of my reviews on my Instagram page at
https://www.instagram.com/thebookrevi...
May 25, 2015
I loved The Longest Holiday and really enjoyed Thirteen Weddings but The Sun in Her Eyes didn't work the same magic for me.
It was a read I could put down, didn't think about and did other things when I would normally have a book in my hand.
I did like it though. It was an easy read with no surprises.
Full review coming soon.
It was a read I could put down, didn't think about and did other things when I would normally have a book in my hand.
I did like it though. It was an easy read with no surprises.
Full review coming soon.
January 21, 2016
I love Paige Toon, her books draw you in, such good writing, can't wait for her next book now.
September 28, 2017
Getting pretty bored with all Paige Toon books are basically the same!
October 28, 2020
I've really enjoyed all the books I've read by Paige Toon so far, but the mc in this one was really selfish and seemed to have no morals whatsoever so I found it hard to relate to her.
July 8, 2022
How long it took me to read this book is no reflection on how good it was. This was June’s Paige Toon Buddy read on insta. Moving house is getting in the way of my reading time.
Another great book. I really enjoyed it. Was quite refreshing having a female protagonist who was a bit ‘naughty’.
Another great book. I really enjoyed it. Was quite refreshing having a female protagonist who was a bit ‘naughty’.
July 8, 2015
When Amber's father has a stroke, she knows she must return to Australia to help him recover. Her husband Ned however can't get away from work, having been recently promoted, so he stays in the UK. Amber not only has to help her father recover, she also gets a chance to catch up properly with her oldest friend. But of her feelings for Ethan, the man she has loved since she was 8 years old.
Ethan is part of their friendship group, and is going through a divorce, and seems delighted that Amber is back for a while, even if the circumstances aren't great.
When Amber was 3 years old she was involved in a car accident that killed her mother. The only person who stopped to help them, has never forgotten Ambers mother's last words, and has always wanted to get back in touch with her to make sure not only that they were passed on, but to see what happened to the little 3 year old she helped.
There are a couple of pages that are from the point of view of this bystander to the accident, but the rest of the book is completely from Amber's point of view. Watching Amber take care of her recovering father is heart-warming, but she also seems to have reverted to teenagerdom too, with her squabbles with Liz (her dad's long term partner), and staying out late and getting drunk with her friends.
I loved a lot of the times Ethan and Amber spent together, especially with Ethan's keen interest in wine, and working on a vineyard, brought up some wonderful imagery. I also loved how most of the book was set in Adelaide, Australia, somewhere that I would love to visit outside of a book one day, but for now I was more than happy to read descriptions of the location, and wish I was soaking up some of that sunshine!
I really enjoyed reading The Sun in her Eyes, but felt it was missing some of Paige Toon's normal spark in the book. It just seemed to be missing her usual magic touch, which is a shame. It is regardless a very good book, with a strong story.
Ethan is part of their friendship group, and is going through a divorce, and seems delighted that Amber is back for a while, even if the circumstances aren't great.
When Amber was 3 years old she was involved in a car accident that killed her mother. The only person who stopped to help them, has never forgotten Ambers mother's last words, and has always wanted to get back in touch with her to make sure not only that they were passed on, but to see what happened to the little 3 year old she helped.
There are a couple of pages that are from the point of view of this bystander to the accident, but the rest of the book is completely from Amber's point of view. Watching Amber take care of her recovering father is heart-warming, but she also seems to have reverted to teenagerdom too, with her squabbles with Liz (her dad's long term partner), and staying out late and getting drunk with her friends.
I loved a lot of the times Ethan and Amber spent together, especially with Ethan's keen interest in wine, and working on a vineyard, brought up some wonderful imagery. I also loved how most of the book was set in Adelaide, Australia, somewhere that I would love to visit outside of a book one day, but for now I was more than happy to read descriptions of the location, and wish I was soaking up some of that sunshine!
I really enjoyed reading The Sun in her Eyes, but felt it was missing some of Paige Toon's normal spark in the book. It just seemed to be missing her usual magic touch, which is a shame. It is regardless a very good book, with a strong story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 384 reviews