The Sirens of Soleil City, Sarah C. Johns
The Sirens of Soleil City, Sarah C. Johns
List: $20.00 | Sale: $14.00
Club: $10.00

The Sirens of Soleil City

Author: Sarah C. Johns

Narrator: Christine Lakin

Unabridged: 9 hr 41 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/09/2024

Categories: Fiction, Women, Family Life


Synopsis

Three generations of women learn to own their mistakes and rebuild their bonds as they prepare to compete in the South Florida Senior Synchronized Swimming Competition.

“A witty, touching story of resilience, forgiveness, complicated family dynamics, and second chances.”—Deepa Varadarajan, author of Late Bloomers

West Palm Beach, 1999. A phone call summons fifty-eight-year-old Cherie Anderson from a frozen Minnesota to help her two mothers: Dale, the mother who left her when she was five and is facing eviction from her budget-apartment complex, Soleil City, and Marlys, the mother who raised her from that moment on—and who’s now dying, but won’t admit it to her daughter. Cherie seeks a reason to stay in town long enough to give Dale the help she’s finally asked for and Marlys the help she clearly needs. And she must find a project to distract her pregnant daughter, Laura, whose marriage has fallen apart just weeks before her due date.

The South Florida Senior Synchronized Swimming Competition seems to be the answer. The publicity from winning the contest, along with the ten-thousand-dollar prize money, could help save Soleil City. With Laura, who used to captain a dance team, as their coach, they’ve got a fighting chance. And with everyone else preoccupied by the competition, Cherie can focus on saving Marlys before it’s too late.

Over the course of a month in an apartment complex filled with feisty, funny, strong-willed women in their seventies, four women who make up an uneasy family will realize that in life, and motherhood, there isn’t good and bad. There’s only trying to get it right.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Shannon on July 07, 2024

A heartwarming story about mothers and daughters, the challenges of balancing work and motherhood and finding joy in old age. I loved the premise of this book set in a Florida retirement community where a group of seniors form a synchro swimming team and try to win a regional competition. With three......more

Goodreads review by Dianne on June 01, 2024

This was a good book, but apparently not for me, and I usually like books about the over-60 crowd! So many others loved this deep look into motherhood that if it sounds interesting at all, I definitely would give it a shot. This was a difficult, gritty look into the lives of two mothers who shared a......more

Goodreads review by The Bookish Narwhal on May 03, 2024

In the sun-kissed backdrop of West Palm Beach, 1999, "The Sirens of Soleil City" by Sarah C. Johns invites readers to plunge into the lives of three generations of women. Johns masterfully weaves a tale of resilience, forgiveness, and the intricate dynamics of family bonds. At the heart of the story......more

Goodreads review by Lydia on January 27, 2024

This novel is a little more lowkey than my more recent reads but I am always down for a generational exploration of mother and daughterhood. Although the plot seems a little strange, I found it to be very tender and sweet at its core. A lovely exploration on how the decisions we make now impact all......more

Goodreads review by Joanna on December 17, 2023

I loved this book. I cared about the characters and their relationships, and laughed out loud. Also, relatable as someone sandwiched between aging parents and young adult children. And there was (light) revenge, which I always enjoy! I read it while traveling and didn’t even care that I was sitting......more


Quotes

“Witty, endearing, and poignant, The Sirens of Soleil City delivers a heartrending exploration of mother-daughter relationships with a strong dose of fun. Sarah C. Johns has crafted a wonderful summer read.”—Mikki Brammer, author of The Collected Regrets of Clover

The Sirens of Soleil City is a witty, touching story of resilience, forgiveness, complicated family dynamics and second chances. The unforgettable women of Soleil City charmed me, moved me, made me laugh out loud, and reminded me that pivotal friendships can be created at any age.”—Deepa Varadarajan, author of Late Bloomers