An epic and transporting novel, the latest installment of the “heart-wrenching, uplifting, and utterly enthralling” (Lucy Foley, author of The Guest List) Seven Sisters series, unravelling between the dazzling streets of modern-day New York City and the breathtaking plains of 1940s colonial Kenya. Electra d’Aplièse is a top model who seems to have it all: beauty, fame, and wealth. But beneath … beauty, fame, and wealth. But beneath the glittery veneer, she’s cracking under all the pressure. When her father dies, she turns to alcohol and drugs to ease the pain. As friends and colleagues fear for her health, Electra receives a shocking letter from a stranger who claims to be her grandmother.
In 1939, New Yorker Cecily Huntley-Morgan arrives in Kenya’s Lake Naivasha region for the exciting chance to stay with her godmother, the famous socialite Kiki Preston. But after a sheltered upbringing, she’s astounded by the hedonistic antics of the other ex-pats in the infamous Happy Valley set. Cecily soon grows to love her stunning but complicated new home, and she even accepts a proposal of marriage from an enigmatic older cattle farmer. After a shocking discovery and with war looming, Cecily feels isolated and alone. Until she meets a young woman in the woods and makes her a promise that will change the course of her life forever.
Featuring Lucinda Riley’s “engaging and mesmerizing” (Library Journal, starred review) storytelling and filled with unforgettable and moving characters, The Sun Sister explores how love can cross seemingly impossible boundaries.
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At first, I didn’t really like Electra, a supermodel and the youngest of six adopted sisters. She appeared to be very self-important and uncaring; however, the more I delved into her story, the more I recognised her finer qualities and became to like and admire her.
Tracing her origins with the help of her newly-found grandmother Stella, the reader is transported back to Kenya in 1939 and from there to New York.
This is a very heart-wrenching story of healing, friendship and discovery, and very well written and researched.
What another wonderful book to add to THE SEVEN SISTERS family. This time, we deal with youngest sister Electra, who is just as fiery (and out-of-control) as her name suggests. This is the cynical sister, the confrontational sister, the one who asks awkward questions, and the only one who is ever openly rude to Pa Salt.
Electra is a world-famous super-model, and suffice it to say that this life-style does not agree with her. Like the other sisters, she goes on a journey to find her family, this time to the world of 1930s Kenya with its eccentric British aristocrats (misbehaving by the shores of Lake Naivasha). Like the other novels, two narratives – past and present – are braided together. As a consequence we get two wonderfully moving stories about two very different women, each of whom had the devastating experience of losing a child.
If you enjoyed her previous five novels, you will enjoy this one. Personally, I can’t wait for #7 to come out! Five stars. #lucindariley #thesunsister
This series has been wonderful. Can’t wait to read more.
adore everything by Lucinda Riley. This series is exceptional. To be honest, I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy this story that highlights the sister Electra. I was sure I’d “like” her with what I’ve read in the other books. The other sisters had more natural appeal to me personally. HOWEVER, as typical with Lucinda’s books, I like the latest one I’ve read the most! Sun Sister quickly became my favorite so far in this series and I’ve dearly loved them all. The historical aspects were very reminiscent of Out of Africa which has a special place in my heart. And the modern day storyline was just as impactful and endearing.
This is the 6th book in the Seven Sisters series and I really enjoyed this as I did the previous ones. I’m looking forward to the next one which I hope will explain all the mysterious events throughout the series. Highly recommended.
NOTE: Atria Books granted me early access to this book in exchange for an honest review. Scheduled U.S. Publication – May 19, 2020.
This is the sixth book in the wildly-successful, seven-novel series Lucinda Riley is writing about seven girls from around the world, adopted by the same wealthy, white man. Each book follows one daughter’s journey to discover her birth origin. This one is another fast and easy read with a compelling story line that covers multiple generations, from wealthy families in late 1930s New York, to World War II Kenya, and back to New York in 2008.
Electra D’Aplièse is the 2008 protagonist- one of the world’s top models — beautiful, rich, and in-demand –seemingly living a privileged life anyone would envy. But beneath the glamour, Electra feels adrift. Distant from her sisters, numbing her feelings with drugs and alcohol, and recently dumped by her rock star boyfriend. Then, she receives a message from a woman claiming to be her grandmother.
From her grandmother, Electra slowly discovers her birth story, beginning in 1939 with Cecily Huntley-Morgan, a wealthy New Yorker whose family sends her to England and Kenya to nurse a broken heart. There’s Kiki, Cecily’s godmother, another wealthy woman who has built an independent life on the shores of Kenya’s picturesque Lake Naivasha. And Bill Forsythe, a cattle farmer with strong connections to the Maasai tribe, who seems happiest out in the wilderness.
Readers get to observe a lot of hypocrisy among the upper classes, around race relations and sexual double standards. We get immersed in the famous Happy Valley set of ex-pats living in and exploiting Kenya during the British Colonial Era and a bit about the widespread-but-never-realized optimism that surrounded Kenya achieving independence. And we even learn a bit about the proud Maasai tribe, with some cultural expectations surprisingly similar to those of the white, Western world.
Discovering her past helps spur a transformation for Electra, allowing her to let go of some self-destructive behaviors and open herself up to new people and opportunities. Along the way, we witness some of the most emotionally powerful subject matter in the novel –around characters who suffer from addiction and the destructive impact it has on their lives, relationships, and loved ones. AND, how vastly different the resources and treatment options are, depending on whether an addict is rich or poor.
I completely enjoyed reading Electra’s story, as I’ve enjoyed this entire series. I’m a huge fan of Lucinda Riley and think of her as someone who understands how to craft a good story. I will note, however, that this is the first book in the series that seemed to wander at times and felt long in places. Just not quite as tight as the others. Though that criticism is certainly NOT going to stop me from reading the next (and final?) novel, whenever it comes out.
I’ve previously read the first 3 books in the series, I received this copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I realise each book carries on from the previous sister’s story in chronological order, not having read the 2 books in between in no way impacted my enjoyment of Electras story, The author fills in any relevant gaps for you so can easily be read as a standalone too.
This is by far the most hard hitting and serious in the series that I’ve read. It deals with some hard issues and is so thought provoking , with some poignant moments.
Electra is the face of the fashion industry and as a result of her high profile career has turned to hard drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism to deal with her mad lifestyle. Her relationship with a man equally as famous as herself has been broken off in the public arena and her inability to deal with it has set off a chain of events which end up with her seeking professional help. In between all this she decides to open the letter Her adoptive father left her detailing how to find her origins. As a result she finds her grandmother , through her we learn of Electras African heritage and how her grandmother came to be living in America .
I loved learning about Cecily and how she came to be living in Africa during the infamous Happy Valley Era in the 1930’s. This was such an interesting retelling of events that unfolded during that time, I was riveted .
This was a beautifully depicted book that captivates and it moved me to tears at certain points in the story. My only criticism at all is that the ending felt a little rushed compared to the vivid detail you get in rest of the book.I really enjoyed this book and would thoroughly recommend it . I can’t wait to read the next one in the series now