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Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
Sometimes being there for someone can change everything. In Brian Oberman’s memoir The Woman at the Sunshine Factory, he’s living a fairly ordinary life until he meets Viktoriia, a Ukrainian immigrant, on a dating app. Their first date at the Sunshine Factory leads to more time together, but their connection develops slowly. They cook, listen to music, celebrate holidays, and learn about each other while also working through uncertainty and cultural differences. Then Viktoriia unexpectedly disappears. Brian discovers that she’s been detained by ICE. She’s frightened, and he wants to be there for her, but he knows very little about the system. He soon finds himself navigating attorneys, paperwork, phone calls, and long waits as he tries to support her from the outside. What began as two people cautiously figuring out a new relationship becomes something neither could have anticipated. How far would you go to make sure a person you care about knows they aren't facing the hardest moments of their life alone?
The Woman at the Sunshine Factory by Brian Oberman took me by surprise. It starts with two middle-aged individuals getting to know each other before things take a very different turn. I enjoyed Brian and Viktoriia together. Their relationship wasn't rushed. Cooking, dancing, and even needing a translator helped them build a connection. By the time things changed, I had become invested in what happened to them. What stood out most was Brian's determination to be Viktoriia's person when she needed one. He couldn't fix everything, but he could answer the phone, listen, gather documents, advocate for her, and remind her he was waiting for her on the other side. The writing is personal and conversational, and the pace moves quickly, particularly once he’s thrown into the confusing world of immigration detention. The book is ultimately more about people than politics. I think it was important for Brian to make that distinction, and that's exactly how it came across to me. This memoir is a good choice for anyone looking for a true story about unexpected relationships, perseverance, and what it really means to show up for someone.
