You know those moments when you wish you were a little more? When you wish that rash idea you had, that you acted upon it? Welcome to Sunny G’s life. When I read the premise for Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions, I was instantly intrigued. Don’t we all have those moments? Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
Sunny G’s brother left him one thing when he died: His notebook, which Sunny is determined to fill up with a series of rash decisions. Decision number one was a big one: He stopped wearing his turban, cut off his hair, and shaved his beard. He doesn’t look like a Sikh anymore. He doesn’t look like himself anymore. Even his cosplay doesn’t look right without his beard.
Sunny debuts his new look at prom, which he’s stuck going to alone. He’s skipping the big fandom party—the one where he’d normally be in full cosplay, up on stage playing bass with his band and his best friend, Ngozi—in favor of the Very Important Prom Experience. An experience that’s starting to look like a bust.
Enter Mindii Vang, a girl with a penchant for making rash decisions of her own, starting with stealing Sunny’s notebook. When Sunny chases after her, prom turns into an all-night adventure—a night full of rash, wonderful, romantic, stupid, life-changing decisions.
Review
TW: racism, side character with alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction
From the premise alone, I loved the idea of Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions. Of a list of all these things we wish we would do. That we hold ourselves back from doing. Those, “If only I had the bravery”. And so begins Sunny G’s night. Sunny has a unique internal narration which you will have to read to believe me. And he was instantly endearing to me. This desire to want to embrace these decisions we are too afraid of. A desire to just be. And the bravery it takes to be us.
So from a thematic or story perspective, I couldn’t wait to see where Sunny’s night would go. Where our lives could go if we just took a moment to say yes. All these expectations we have of our life and of experiences. The moment we need to throw them out of the door. To embrace the spontaneity. But in Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions, there’s also deep emotional vulnerability. Sunny is still reeling from the grief of his brother. Trying to figure out who his brother was and who he was to him.
The nerd and pop culture references in Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions is another added delightful element. Even if the ending felt a little hastily wrapped up, I enjoyed how this book explores us holding on to things. The secrets and sides of people we never knew that we discover. And how we can be trapped in toxic cultural masculinity where we can’t admit we need help. All of these elements provides a depth to Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions. Find Sunny G’s Series of Rash Decisions on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.