In the best way possible, Sunny is not an entirely likeable character. And I say that's in the best way possible because 1) I cannot wait to see how he's going to grow as this book progresses and 2) his voice is absolutely phenomenal. I have circulated among The Nerds for years. I know all the different subtypes. And Sunny is spot on perfect with that voice. Weird in a way that makes you want to like him, but also a touch overdramatic and and little condescending. He's funny and engaging even when I can only guess that his attitude is also going to cause him major problems at some point.
And even the hints of the other characters are great! I want to know more about Gray--how much does his actual life line up to how Sunny imagines it? Sunny clearly hero-worships his older brother, but the version of Gray that Sunny puts on a pedestal and idolizes can't be real, right? I really, really want to see more of him in this story, especially as Sunny takes on some of that identity. I want to know more about his parents too, and their work all the time attitude that seems to have departed from their roots, roots which Sunny genuinely seems to miss.
Also, before I forget to mention it, I adore the opening. All of these examples of going to drastic measures for love going horribly wrong, ending on what's obviously Sunny, then leading not into the story itself, but Sunny's origin story. The reason why Sunny goes so hard on his nerd identity but in a mixed up way--equally proud and ashamed of it--laid out right there gives so much insight how this story is going to be shaped right from the beginning, and it's easily one of my favorite openings I've ever read.
Overall, I can't wait to read this book. I want to learn more about Sunny and his friends. I want to see his character arc play out, and I want to know what role, if any, Gray is going to play in that. I want to know where the parents' arc is going to in relation to Sunny's. And perhaps most importantly, I want to know how this is all going to end with Cirrus.
And even the hints of the other characters are great! I want to know more about Gray--how much does his actual life line up to how Sunny imagines it? Sunny clearly hero-worships his older brother, but the version of Gray that Sunny puts on a pedestal and idolizes can't be real, right? I really, really want to see more of him in this story, especially as Sunny takes on some of that identity. I want to know more about his parents too, and their work all the time attitude that seems to have departed from their roots, roots which Sunny genuinely seems to miss.
Also, before I forget to mention it, I adore the opening. All of these examples of going to drastic measures for love going horribly wrong, ending on what's obviously Sunny, then leading not into the story itself, but Sunny's origin story. The reason why Sunny goes so hard on his nerd identity but in a mixed up way--equally proud and ashamed of it--laid out right there gives so much insight how this story is going to be shaped right from the beginning, and it's easily one of my favorite openings I've ever read.
Overall, I can't wait to read this book. I want to learn more about Sunny and his friends. I want to see his character arc play out, and I want to know what role, if any, Gray is going to play in that. I want to know where the parents' arc is going to in relation to Sunny's. And perhaps most importantly, I want to know how this is all going to end with Cirrus.