In the heart of a no-nonsense Florida retirement community, chaos brews as Hurricane Charley barrels toward the Gulf Coast, threatening the tranquility of Sunnyville. It’s late summer 2004, and the residents are on edge, grappling with the impending storm. Amidst the brewing tempest, Barbara Thunderclap unexpectedly returns to reconcile with her estranged mother, only to be greeted by a grim scene—her mother, Alice, lies lifeless on the floor. Meanwhile, reclusive widow Lily Westfall finds herself unwittingly drawn into the turmoil, stepping in to support Barbara in her time of need. Kenny Fitzroy is enjoying a peaceful retirement, nestled in the cozy comforts of his daily routine, when the shocking news of impending fatherhood turns his world upside down. Meanwhile, Peggy Beamish, fueled by wanderlust and discontent in her marriage to the unfaithful Mike, busies herself shopping for RVs as she plans a lavish 50th wedding anniversary gala. With a firm resolution to file for divorce immediately after the festivities, her restlessness begins to influence her new friend Marge Cumberbatch. Marge, a retiree grappling with her turbulent life alongside husband Ted, finds herself questioning her own happiness as Peggy’s adventurous spirit ignites a spark of uncertainty within her. As the gala approaches, both women face pivotal moments that could reshape their futures, leaving them to ponder the meaning of love, loyalty, and the pursuit of a fulfilled life. As the winds howl and the hurricane looms, a coterie of oddballs in Sunny Glen Palms navigate their own personal storms, creating a comic yet tragic epic that unfolds behind the gates of their retirement paradise. In this whirlwind of emotions, the residents discover that sometimes, the fiercest tempests are not those that rage outside, but those that dwell within.
Set in a 2004 roiling with the politics of life during wartime, Sun of Sunnyville lays bare, with a reportorial eye, the secrets and hearts of its cast of retirees. Despite some biting passages, especially on the subject of men with rage issues, Donovan’s storytelling emphasizes each character’s humanity—and how so many have pickled or lost connection to what really matters. The novel bustles with scandals, slicing remarks, and pitch-perfect dialogue that invites readers to feel as if we’re eavesdropping. But at the story’s core is a pervasive loneliness, as characters face the consequences of years of turning to adultery, pop culture, political arguments, or intoxicants as “a means to escape a very lonely selfish world.”
What a relief, then, that characters like Peggy and Marge find each other and forge new connections, surprising themselves. (A visit to a storm-tossed Disney park is a bittersweet comic highlight.) The novel is hefty, with slow pacing and a sometimes overwhelming wealth of detail about each character’s daily grind and vividly drawn past. But it’s got a sharp eye and a big heart.
Takeaway: Incisive, sprawling novel laying bare the hearts and lives of Florida retirees.
Comparable Titles: Dave Lutes’s The Wall(s); Cathie Pellitier.
Production grades
Cover: B-
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
