Sunny Figures it Out

 Sunny Figures it Out by Jennifer and Matthew Holm. 224 pgs. © 2025

Book #6 in the series, the most recent (my daughter says a new one is coming out next year). Sunny is older and trying to figure out romance by reading old Harlequin romance novels she finds at a thrift store. Her friend Deb explains the rules of dating--what boys should and shouldn't be doing (carrying your books, giving you their jacket, etc). but it doesn't feel right to Sunny and her boyfriend Tony. They're more like good friends who are forcing a relationship. Eventually she realized she's not like her friend Deb and has no interest in growing up too fast. 

Sunny Makes Her Case

Sunny Makes Her Case by Jennifer and Matthew Holm. 224 pages. © 2024

Book #5 in the series. Ok, this has been my favorite so far. Sunny is helping out more around the house and arguing with her mom, who says she should grow up to be a lawyer. She tries out for the cheerleading squad and doesn't make the cut, but she doesn't dwell on it too long. With her D&D friends out of town, Sunny and her friend start a debate club and win first place at the championships. The funniest bit in this is when she wants to dress up nicer for the next debate, like the debate kids from the prep school. She goes to mall and picks out a pant-suit and a briefcase, which I guess was high working-woman fashion at the time. Sunny's friend also admits he likes her and asks her out on a date. 

Sunny Makes a Splash

 Sunny Makes a Splash by Jennifer and Matthew Holm. 224 pgs. © 2021

Book #4 in this series, another great entry. Actually this and the 5th book have been my favorites. Here Sunny is a little older, exiting7th grade, and gets a job working the snack counter at the pool. She also gets to watch the romantic relationships unfold between the lifeguards...it's better than watching General Hospital. The book makes lots of humorous references to actual things in the 1970s and it makes me chuckle to think kids are learning about The Price is Right and fluffernutter sandwiches from this. Sunny takes her first job seriously and eventually musters up the courage to jump off the high-dive at the pool. This kid is growing up fast, watch out world. 

Sunny Rolls the Dice

 Sunny Rolls the Dice By Jennifer and Matthew Holm. 224 pgs. © 2019

Third book in the Sunny series and the main character seems in a better place. This time Sunny's older brother has joined the Navy and is straightening his life out. She's in 7th grade with a new best friend when the two girls start hanging out with a group of boys who are into playing Dungeons and Dragons. Sunny really starts to enjoy the game but her friend is more interested in dating and dances and tries to low-key shame her out of kid things. Eventually, she learns to accept herself, even if that means losing her friend.  These are fast enjoyable reads. Plus they're upping my page count for the month :)