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"  As a young New Yorker, I can&amp;#039;t help but love delving into the literary snow globe settings of so many novels set in my adopted city. The Sunshine When She&amp;#039;s Gone is no exception; yet it stands out for its relatable, endearingly ambivalent characters, lack of pretense, and stark climactic contrasts from city to country. The vivid, nearly tactile portrayal of these places is appropriate for a book in which both the characters and reader seem to feel their way through the pages, rather than navigate the arc of a plot from start to finish. In The Sunshine When She&amp;#039;s Gone, we get to know John, a thirty-something, financially successful, nice guy; and Veronica, his beautiful, dark-haired, artistic wife, who has a propensity for sensual pleasure and luxury. Their baby is sweet, fragile Clara, whose new presence in her parents&amp;#039; lives has thrown all balance into disarray. John longs for the pre-Clara days, when Veronica&amp;#039;s affection was easy and ample. For her part, Veronica reminisces about the irresponsible adventures she had with friends \u2014 getting high in Central Park, appreciating art and food, not spending every moment caring for a dependent creature. Goodman brings these struggles down to earth, transporting them from the philosophical realm into the nitty-gritty of reality. The book opens with a shocking act: When his go-to diner is closed, John decides \u2014 without thinking \u2014 to board a plane to the Bahamas with Clara in tow, while Veronica sleeps unaware at home. Soon, of course, his concerns turn from the sunny beach to Clara&amp;#039;s formula, digestion, and fever. Meanwhile, Veronica enjoys a leisurely morning, meets up with her friend Art, who, ironically, knows where John is and doesn&amp;#039;t say a word, has an impulsive, emotionally loaded tryst with an ex-boyfriend, and finally ends up at her mother-in-law&amp;#039;s suburban home in the wee hours, where she makes the heart-stopping discovery that John and Clara are gone. The complexity of Goodman&amp;#039;s characters is masterfully reflected in the different environments they exist within. The author&amp;#039;s New York is a wintry one of sparkling, cold air, gray skies and dirty snow; Barbados is full of puffy clouds and the scent of coconuts. Similarly, John and Veronica&amp;#039;s internal landscapes are divided: They want the responsibilities that come with parenthood and adult love, but aren&amp;#039;t eager to give up the passions and simplicity of youth. Upon their reunion \u2014 which I expected, but nonetheless prompted a huge sigh of relief \u2014 a collision of those desires, values, and lifestyles ensues, forcing them to honestly confront each other and themselves for the first time in months. Manhattanites, lovers, parents, readers: This gorgeously human novel is not to be missed. Got your attention? For more on The Sunshine When She&amp;#039;s Gone, read our exclusive interview with Thea Goodman. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.redbookmag.com/life/reviews/a15044/the-sunshine-when-shes-gone-review/>