“All beautiful things in life need the sun to bloom and thrive. We might not know each other very well yet, but I have no doubt you’re the brightest light of sunshine, Grace.”
I had The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney on my mind for years. It literally sat on my Kindle for over a year, just waiting for me. I finally picked it up, and honestly? I was super nervous going into it because of the trigger warnings. 😬
This book really had the potential to be something good. The premise sounded like it could wreck me in the best way, emotional, healing, impactful. But unfortunately, it just didn’t hit the mark for me.
Summary of The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney
A woman ready to move on. A man who can’t afford distractions. An inspiring journey of healing love.
Determined to walk away from a traumatic past, 22-year-old Grace Allen feels ready to take the next step in her healing journey—dipping a toe into the dating pool. Although she should probably start by making a friend or two, right?
Samuel ‘Cal’ Callaghan isn’t who she had envisioned as her first male friend in… well, forever. With an intimidating build, tattoos everywhere, eight years her senior, and a little sister under his care, the last thing she expected was to warm up to him so easily. As their friendship evolves, Grace can’t help but wonder if Cal is exactly who she’s been looking for all this time.
Cal can’t afford to lose sight of his priorities—making sure his tattoo parlor thrives and taking care of his little sister. Especially the latter. He wants to make sure 4-year-old Maddie has a healthy and happy childhood despite their mother going off the rails and her father’s blatant neglect. There’s certainly no room for love in his life right now. But when a sweet blonde with a veiled past breaks down his walls, he finds it difficult to stick to his guns.
Review of The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney
SOOO, like I said, this one had the potential to be a really good book. But unfortunately, the writing style just wasn’t for me (among other things). 😕
Plot Analysis of The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney
Grace never expected that a random visit to a tattoo shop would change so much. Cal wasn’t supposed to become her safe place, her person, but somehow, he did. What started as an easy friendship quickly turned into something deeper, something neither of them were ready for. Between Cal trying to hold his world together while raising his little sister, and Grace still learning to open up again after the trauma that broke her, love was the last thing either of them had time for… yet it quietly found its way in.
Characters of The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney
Grace Allen : Grace’s character honestly left me scratching my head. Her trauma was meant to be a major part of her journey, but the way it was written just didn’t make it believable for me. I wanted to feel for her, to connect with her pain, but her reactions were so inconsistent it was hard to fully buy into it. She was supposed to be cautious and guarded around men after what she went through, but then she meets Cal and instantly trusts him, like, he invited her over, she showed up without questions asked and SHE FELL A SLEEP ON HIS COUCH. I get that he’s supposed to be the exception, but without enough buildup or emotional groundwork, it just didn’t click for me. Her growth didn’t feel earned, it felt rushed.
Samuel Callaghan : Okay, so picture this: tall, broad-shouldered, brunette, tattooed… Cal is Jeon Jungkook coded and I’m not even a little bit apologetic about it. If you know, you know. 😌
He’s sweet, protective, responsible, and his relationship with his little sister genuinely melted my heart. You can tell he’s trying so hard to hold things together for her, and I really appreciated that softer side. But… as much as I wanted to love him, something just didn’t click for me. He didn’t feel fully fleshed out, like he lacked real development or depth. I kept waiting for that “aha” moment where I’d feel connected to him, but it never came. He stayed kind of flat the entire story.
And listen, one thing that seriously threw me off: why was a 30-year-old man at a frat party??? 🤨 It gave weird. It genuinely felt like Cal was originally written to be in his early 20s and the author later bumped his age up without updating the rest of the scenes. Because tell me why a grown man is chilling at a house party full of college kids like it’s normal.
The romance : While I did enjoy the tenderness between Grace and Cal, especially how gentle and reassuring he was whenever she felt overwhelmed, I struggled with how quickly their relationship progressed emotionally. The pacing of the book gave the illusion of a slow burn, but the romance itself felt like it skipped several steps. Grace’s history of trauma, particularly her assault, is supposed to be a defining aspect of her character, influencing how she interacts with men and relationships. But that emotional thread never really showed up in her dynamic with Cal. Instead of gradually earning her trust, Cal was instantly welcomed into her world, and we as readers were expected to just go with it. Their connection developed off-page through time jumps, which made it difficult to feel the intimacy they were supposed to have built. It was sweet on the surface, sure, but emotionally, it didn’t quite add up for me.
Pacing & writing style
I really don’t want to be too harsh, especially when it comes to reviewing a book by a non-traditionally published author, ,but unfortunately, the writing in The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney just didn’t work for me. It came across as quite immature and a bit juvenile at times.
When you’re writing a book aimed at a more mature audience, especially one that handles some heavy, emotional topics, the writing needs a certain depth to carry that weight. Sadly, I just didn’t find it here. The emotional impact felt shallow, and the overall tone didn’t match the seriousness of the themes.
Let’s talk about Cal for a second… there is no way this man is supposed to be 30. Nothing about his choices, or behavior gave that off. Honestly, it felt like he was written as early-twenties, and the age was changed later without updating the rest of the story.
And I have to mention a few lines that gave me full-on secondhand embarrassment: phrases like “his big paw of a hand” or “I got my monthly visit from Aunt Flo” had me cringing a little. 😬 It made the writing feel even younger.
The third-act breakup? Totally unnecessary. It felt forced and rushed, especially after everything the characters went through just to get together. It didn’t add tension, it just broke the flow.
That said… I did genuinely enjoy some moments of the book. There were parts that warmed my heart, and even a few that I really loved. And that’s why this lands at 2.5 stars for me. I think the author has potential, and I hope to see her voice grow and evolve in future work.
The pacing in The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney was honestly one of the better parts of the book. It kept a steady rhythm that made it easy to fly through, and I never felt like the plot was dragging. That said, the romance was where the pacing got a bit confusing for me. It was presented as a slow burn, and I kept waiting for that gradual emotional buildup… but instead, everything between Grace and Cal happened so quickly that it didn’t quite match the tone the book seemed to be going for. It gave off the illusion of a slow burn, but underneath, it felt more like a fast-forwarded connection that skipped over the deeper emotional development I was hoping for.
Tropes and Trigger warnings of The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney
Tropes of The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney
Friends to lovers
Slow burn
Age gap
Ballet teacher x Tattoo artist
Single Dad (siblings)
Trigger warnings of The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney
Past sexual assault
Substance abuse
Addiction
Child neglect
Some quotes I enjoyed
“All beautiful things in life need the sun to bloom and thrive. We might not know each other very well yet, but I have no doubt you’re the brightest light of sunshine, Grace.”
“Writing is such an intimate act for me, almost like stripping down naked but in a different way. In a mental way. And it freaks me out as much as the physical version would.”
“The sole reason I’m not more open about my assault is because I refuse to be pitied and treated differently for it. What I went through shouldn’t have happened in the first place, and it changed the way my mind and heart worked, but I’m not going to be defined by it. I refuse to. I’m more than a victim. I’m a survivor. I’m a whole woman. I’m not broken even if smaller parts of me might be. I’m a fighter, and I will rebuild myself no matter how long it takes or how uncomfortable it makes me feel.”
“Now, next year, in five years… Whenever you wish, sunshine. Whether you want a big wedding or just the two of us, I don’t care. All I need is to know that one day you’ll be my wife and I’ll be your husband, because I can’t stomach the thought of a life without you, Grace. I want it all with you, everything, and I will wait an eternity for you if that’s what it takes to get our happy ending.”
Final Thought
I hate being harsh, especially with non-traditionally published authors, because I know how much heart and effort goes into writing a book. And honestly, I wanted to love this. I was rooting for it. The premise had all the makings of an emotional, healing, soft romance that could’ve really hit deep.
But in the end, it just didn’t land for me. The writing felt childish for the themes it tried to explore, the characters lacked the depth needed to carry the emotional weight, and the romance, while cute at times, didn’t fully convince me. There were sweet moments, don’t get me wrong, but not enough to make up for everything else that didn’t quite work.
That said, I still believe Lisina Coney has potential. She clearly has a passion for telling heartfelt stories, and I truly hope her voice continues to grow and evolve with each book. This just wasn’t the one for me, but hey, reading is subjective. What didn’t work for me might hit perfectly for someone else. 🌻
About the author
Lisina Coney is a Spanish international bestselling romance author in her twenties.
She’s a lover of slow-burn stories with happy endings and main characters who help readers feel less alone in their journeys.
When she’s not reading or writing, Lisina can be found fighting people over the last French fry, spending too much time on social media (Gen Z habits die hard), and pestering her two very patient cats.
Practical Information for Readers
The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney Book Formats
The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney is available in various formats to suit every reader’s preference:
Paperback: Ideal for readers who enjoy the tactile experience of holding a physical book.
eBook: Convenient for on-the-go reading, available on all major e-reader platforms.
Audiobook: Narrated with emotional depth, available on platforms like Audible.
PDF The Brightest Light of Sunshine : While some may search for a PDF version, it’s recommended to opt for legal eBook options to support the author.
Where to find The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney PDF
Amazon Kindle: Offers a user-friendly interface with customizable reading settings.
Barnes & Noble Nook: Another popular platform with a wide selection of e-books.
Apple Books: Provides seamless integration with Apple devices and a smooth reading experience.
The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney Age Rating
I’d recommend The Brightest Light of Sunshine by Lisina Coney for readers aged 19+ due to explicit sexual content and themes of past sexual assault and addiction. The book deals with the addiction of a parent and child neglect which could be triggering for some readers, so keep that in mind before diving in.
