Book Review: Tomorrow There Will Be Sun by Dana Reinhardt

I received an Advance Readers’ Copy of this book. It is set to be released 12 March 2019.

The word that comes to mind when describing Tomorrow There Will Be Sun is “frothy”. Like a margarita on a hot day. Not necessarily to be criticized but neither is it something you need in your life.

There are a lot of margaritas drunk in this novel. To tell the truth, there are a number of Mexican stereotypes in this novel. But while the book is set in Puerto Vallarta it really isn’t about Mexico. The main characters are all Americans, vacationing in Mexico, with pretty minimal interaction or experience with the country they’re visiting.

The occasion for this grand holiday – a week at a very fancy villa – is the joint celebration of Peter and Solly’s fiftieth birthdays. It is Peter’s wife, Jenna, who has found, planned, and organized this holiday and it is her perspective and experience that the novel follows. Along for the trip are Clementine (Peter and Jenna’s teenage daughter), Ingrid (Solly’s wife), Malcolm (Solly’s teenage son from his first marriage), and Ivan (Solly and Ingrid’s son).

Solly and Peter have been best friends for years. Jenna was best friends with Solly’s first wife but has an uneasy friendship with Ingrid, who is several years younger. Jenna doesn’t really like Solly either but puts up with him, particularly because he and Peter have recently gone into business together. Why she would encourage a week long getaway with these people is never answered.

Predictably, things fall apart. There is all kinds of relational trouble, most of which you will see coming. Clementine and Peter are teen stereotypes and Ivan is basically a prop. We’re told Jenna and Peter have a good relationship but she’s so horribly insecure that it’s hard to see, or feel much sympathy for her when she’s clearly making it hard for everyone else to enjoy their vacation. I found Ingrid to be the most likeable character.

This is book junk food, the kind you read poolside on your own tropical vacation. Hopefully not with a bunch of people you don’t really like.