~Cathy A.

"Following Sunshine" not only captures the essence of McAnally's personal journey but also resonates universally, encouraging a journey of self-examination. As you turn the pages, you're invited to revisit your own childhood memories, reconsider their impact, and understand how they’ve influenced the person you’ve become.

Through its beautiful imagery and introspective narrative, "Following Sunshine" puts you firmly in McAnally’s shoes, making her reflections feel both personal and universally relatable. This memoir is a testament to the power of storytelling in understanding ourselves and our pasts, leaving a lasting impression long after the final page is turned.”

~Sandy F.

Read an advanced copy of this and LOVED it. Unexpectedly moving and heartfelt with page after page of life lessons. A genre bending memoir- travel, self help, philosophy, adventure, romance… Vivid and distinct. Read it!

~S.M Stevens

Following Sunshine is a self-discovery journey and love story wrapped up in travelogue paper. Follow Niamh through her life as she seeks the careers and relationships she thinks will define her and satisfy her. But her wanderlust is strong, and it’s through travel—and ultimately, on the water specifically—that she truly finds herself. The right career and true love follow.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to travel to remote, exotic locations, in particular the South Pacific, you’ll want to read this book. It’s much more fun to learn about these locales through McAnally’s true tales, which drip with flavor and sensation, than to read a dry article.

Through her travels, McAnally uncovers important insights about what makes her tick, including the startling realization that in some ways she has been sabotaging herself as a defense mechanism against childhood trauma. Her moments of revelation are told simply and honestly and in just the right amount—not overdone or overwrought as some narrators do.

McAnally’s writing is fluid and beautiful, as well as laugh-out-loud funny at times. 

~Amanda Geard

I loved everything about Niamh McAnally's Following Sunshine, not least of all her wonderful outlook on life. To say I was inspired by this memoir is an understatement; she really has had (and continues to have) an amazing and adventurous life. Few people see all the things Niamh's seen, and even fewer have the ability to put pen to paper and record their experiences with such beautiful vividity.

I loved so many quotes, but here are three I jotted in my notebook:

- 'Good work, done consistently over a long period of time, never goes unnoticed.' (An overnight success after 40 years!)
- 'Things didn’t make me happy, new places did.’ (And eventually it was a person!)
- And finally, Niamh's reflections on ‘who am I serving?’. I’ve thought about that a lot since, in my work, and also my writing. Who am I serving? It's a nice way to look at the every day.

A wonderful memoir I'll return to - Niamh’s sense of adventure, and her desire to always give back, has shown me that anything is possible.

~Cam Torrens

This one grabbed me from the first page. Niamh McAnally’s "Following Sunshine" is a one-of-a-kind memoir of one woman’s struggle with the loss of loved ones and self-esteem, her indefatigable methods of combatting her travails with humor, and the love she finds…not just with a soulmate, but ultimately with herself.

When she shares “I had no one left in this world who would love me unconditionally…” I had tears in my own eyes, pondering the mortality of my parents. I laughed aloud at her cultural faux pax in Hanoi, recalling the time I accidentally dropped my host mother’s underwear in the toilet on a homestay in Beijing. And the love? McAnally subtly reveals it like it so often happens…not at first sight, but through shared trials and experiences.

A helluva adventure captured in brilliant writing. 5 Stars all around!

~Muriel Roos

I loved this book, the only problem is once I started reading, it was difficult to put down. Niamh takes you on a journey of her less than perfect childhood in Ireland, and all the way through her exciting and rich travels. I felt as though I was with her on the search for new adventures around the globe. Without any spoilers, her journey has an unexpected ending, that will make you smile.

Having read this book in just a couple of days, I am left wanting more. Hopefully Niamh is planning her next novel soon, and I will be first in line.