July 2025 | Book Nerds Across America

Saturday, July 26, 2025

BOOK REVIEW : SUNNY SIDE UP BY KATIE STURINO

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

Sunny Greene is thirty-five, recently divorced, facing the looming prospect of going solo to her little brother’s wedding, and currently trying to find anything plus-sized in the Bergdorf Goodman swimsuit department that doesn’t make her want to cry. It’s not going well. But isn’t rock bottom the perfect place to start a climb?

She decides it’s now or never. Sunny has her PR empire, her gorgeous Chelsea apartment, her two dogs, and her loyal best friends. Maybe it's time to just love her body and accept herself for who she is. With a new commitment to confidence, her journey begins. Who says a plus-sized divorcee can’t put herself first, feel beautiful, and date up a storm?

Of course things are never straightforward in the dating world. Is fate knocking at her door with Dennis, the charming and down-to-earth mailman, or should she be with Ted, the business tycoon who seems ready to make her size-inclusive swimsuit brand a reality? And what should she do about her ex, who shows up unexpectedly, eager to reconnect?

TEE'S THOUGHTS:

I actually went through several times of not wanting to turn off my audio and go to bed while listening to the new book Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino, it was just so cute and fun, that it was one of those books that you read and just want to keep on so you know what happens next.

I have never read a book by Katie Sturino, and Sunny Side Up certainly has made me a fan of hers. She has written a story that has romance, I mean the whole debate on Mr Postman vs The Silver Fox was relatable. Most of us at one time or another have had two guys we just couldn't decide which one was the best for us, because they both seemed great. It was also a story that was empowering, Sunny was successful , smart, and living her best life in NYC. She was positive about her weight, and much of her story taught us to embrace our bodies and our choices.

I liked Sonny, but many times I did not relate to her choices or attitude. I struggle with my body image and am not as accepting of it as she is, and I was not in my younger years as free with sex as she was, especially how comfortable she was with it, but I still enjoyed her and related to her throughout the book on other things.

I really enjoyed Mr. Postman ( yes he has a real name ). He was one of the most human characters I have read in a while. He was not perfect, he was color blind and made questionable fashion choices. He seemed almost awkward and nerdy to me, and honestly I think this is why I loved him even more. He felt real. Also, if you happen to be listening to this book, the narrator did a wonderfully funny thick New York Accent with him, that makes it worth the listen.

Yes, of course, there were things that were not perfect with the story, isn't there always? Sunny seemed to get everything she wanted without much work, it felt to perfectly aligned, but I was able to overlook the few things because of the fun I found in the book. It's fiction, we don't have to have everything a life struggle for the characters do we? I think for me, I need to let go and suspend reality for a bit while I read ad just enjoy. ( THIS is why I am not a good fantasy reader. I struggle with that )

This is the perfect poolside/beach read. Quick, enjoyable and will make you laugh!

Book Report: Another Fine Mess by Lindy Ryan

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

Another Fine Mess is a horror novel that combines mystery, humor, and heart. It follows the Evans women, who have kept the undead from rising in their southeast Texas town for over a century. However, the dead sometimes rise too quickly. In Another Fine Mess, Lenore Evans, Luna, and the new sheriff must uncover what threatens everything they love.

TEE'S THOUGHTS:

Lindy Ryan has brought us back to East Texas and the Evan's all-female-run funeral home in her second installment of the Bless Your Heart horror series, Another Fine Mess. As with the first book, Another Fine Mess oozes with Southern Charm, which is one of the most endearing things about this series. For me, it is like driving down to Texas and visiting my East Texas family. I even tend to read their words in the thick accent of all my cousins.

The Evan's family is still healing from the events of the first book, but secrets begin to rise, along with the dead, and they have to turn their attention elsewhere and save the town.

Ryan is a master at her world-building in these books, and her imaginative storytelling is key. You get a horror novel with all the suspense, creepiness and bloody things you would expect in most horror stories, but this goes beyond that and gives you something different, it gives you a family that loves each other deeply, even in bad times, and for the most part they love all the characters, wacky or not, in their small Texas town and will do anything to make things right.

Another Fine Mess has multiple POVs that keep the story rolling. At times, it does seem a bit choppy, but it gets the story out there and makes it a quick, easy read. New elements and characters are brought in, so it is not a rehash of the first book. But let me stop for a minute and change course.... This is the second book of a series, and I highly recommend reading the first one before you pick this up. It will give you back stories that will make this one more understandable to you, as it does have items and feelings that carry over.

Ryan is not afraid to kill people off in her stories either, so you never know who will be left standing, but in a horror book, you know, murder, no matter who you are, should be expected.

Another Fine Mess is spooky, full of secrets, full of laughs, full of strong women and full of fun. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!!