Review of Sunnyside Up

Post by **Theresa Moffitt** » 01 Feb 2022, 12:31

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Sunnyside Up" by Rea Nolan Martin.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Sunnyside Up by Rea Nolan Martin is a fictional story that focuses on two sisters who couldn’t be more different. Adelaide is the older sister and Felicity is the younger sister. They live in the rural town of Outskirt, Kentucky. The family business is Sunnyside Up Funeral Home and Chicken Farm. The business has been passed down through generations of their father’s family. They provide funeral services and have a cemetery on the property. Adelaide considers herself to be the stable businesswoman, and she cares for her more eccentric younger sister.

Both sisters have trouble remembering incidents from the past. They frequently refer to a past accident; however, neither sister seems to remember exactly what happened. Felicity believes her confusion and eccentricities stem from “accident brain.” Neither of the sisters married, so they rely on each other for companionship. Through frequent flashbacks, readers get glimpses of their relationship as children and young adults. Adelaide was in love with Julian and thought they would be married, but he died. Neither sister remembers exactly what happened to him.

Rea Nolan Martin is a gifted storyteller. She weaves the lives of these two women through different times and experiences. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a character. This was a fascinating way for readers to understand what each character was feeling as incidents occurred. Gradually, the story unravels through flashbacks, and we learn more about the family and the accident. There is a mystical aspect to the book that is captivating. For example, I enjoyed the interactions with relatives who have died, like Uncle Pothead and Granny. They are colorful characters who add humor and dimension to the story.

There are so many dimensions to these characters. Adelaide and Felicity have a very complex relationship. Adelaide loves to argue and complain about Felicity, but they have a deep connection and love for each other. The interactions and dialogue between the characters are exceptionally well-written and are what I enjoyed most about the book. Another aspect of the book that was entertaining was the inclusion of obituaries. Obituaries fall in line with the family business and are included for some of the characters. They are written with humor and give additional background about the specific character’s death and family. They added context to the flashbacks and jumps in time. They also helped to describe relationships between the characters. This was a unique and entertaining way for the author to provide additional information to the reader. There was nothing I disliked about this book.

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy novels about complex family relationships. It is humorous at times and has mystical aspects that explore the afterlife. So, it would appeal to readers who have an interest in those topics. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and give it a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I saw two minor errors in the book that did not distract from my enjoyment. For the reasons given, I would not give this book a rating of anything less than a perfect score.

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Sunnyside Up
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shreyagupta · Post by **shreyagupta** » 03 Feb 2022, 09:21

The story line is quite different and interesting. Great Review!

Amy Luman · Post by **Amy Luman** » 03 Feb 2022, 10:23

Adelaide and Felicity sound like real sisters. They love each other, but are also annoyed by each other. Thanks for the review!

Mbenma Esther 080 · Post by **Mbenma Esther 080** » 03 Feb 2022, 11:01

Reading fictional works about family life is a go-to for me. Thanks for the review

Amiczy Heaven · Post by **Amiczy Heaven** » 03 Feb 2022, 14:41

I have an older sister and we have my a great relationship. I’ll like to read this book to see how their relationship strived.

Blessing O 2 · Post by **Blessing O 2** » 03 Feb 2022, 18:50

This story about two sisters piques my interest. Thanks for the detailed review. It sure seems like a book I would like to try out due to its touch of humor and mystery.

SirLifted · Post by **SirLifted** » 04 Feb 2022, 13:21

I'm curious as to how a novel with complex family situations can have some humour and mystical aspects that explore the afterlife. This is piquing my interest already.

SirLifted · Post by **SirLifted** » 04 Feb 2022, 13:29

I'm curious as to how a novel with complex family situations can have some humour and mystical aspects that explore the afterlife. This is piquing my interest already.

Aisha Yakub · Post by **Aisha Yakub** » 06 Feb 2022, 16:17

It's interesting that siblings could be so different. I'll like to know more about why they couldn't clearly remember the past.

Thank you for the review.