Ok time for a bit of honesty. I don't read very much YA because I just don't feel like I relate well. I am old and my kids are 14 and below. I have tried a few YA novels in the past year. I have loved several, others I just couldn't get past all the drama. I am trying to branch out and read more YA. My kids are getting older and I know they will be venturing into this world more.
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With that above being said, I absolutely adored this book. Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous was an absolute joy to read. I loved the whole cast of characters and was so involved with the book that I read it in one sitting. I could not stop. I was sad when it ended because I could have easily read more. Full disclosure, I did have audio as well and the narrator did a great job.

This was a cute and fun read with wonderful Asian representation. Unforunately, that's the most I can say about this one. I didn't find it particularly memorable and at times, had difficulty getting through the entire book. I'm not sure I would"ve if it weren"t for the audiobook!

The story follows Sunny Song who attends a digital detox camp for her addiction to social media. This is very relatable in the world we live in today. As time goes on, she learns a tough, but true lesson that she didn't expect - self-discovery and realization as a result of being able to focus on something other than her social media following.

Although this message is really important, I just couldn't find the story compelling enough to hold my attention throughout.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for an e-ARC and audiobook of this one. All opinions are my own.

This was fun, angsty, and overall a very uplifting story of redemption and change. Sunny starts out a self obsessed social media influencer on the rise. Her parents decide that she has to go to a completely offline camp to detox from all things online. Although I don't agree with their harsh decision to send her there, the camp did turn into an amazing growth opportunity for both Sunny and her family. The story was easy to read and had lots of entertaining characters. that proved not all social media influencers were the same and also that not all social media was a bad thing. Both sides of the argument were well represented and both sides moved toward the center.

3.5 Stars

Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous is easily divided into beginning, middle and end. With two of those pieces being only so-so and the other much better.

The beginning of Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous could be stronger. Sure, Sunny is involved in some funny mishaps, but one-dimensional supporting characters make it feel more like a setup for the rest of the novel rather than a more natural flow of events.

The middle is where the meat is. This is where Sunny becomes a well-fleshed-out character with a stronger supporting cast that adds much-needed depth to the story. Sunny’s good-natured personality shines above the amped-up teen angst that’s ever present at detox camp. Even though she’s not happy with her situation, you don’t want to punch her — unlike some other characters — in the face.

The romance elements are sweet and awkward, and for the most part, work well. I wasn’t particularly thrilled when…

***Spoiler alert***

… some retirees essentially hand them the keys to a room where it’s alluded to that they have sex. While not a deal breaker, it feels like a big leap from what felt like their second or third kiss.

The ending of Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous comes fast. Like everything is wrapped up in such a small number of pages, I thought I might be missing something. Considering the more languid pacing of the rest of the book, more time and energy could, and should, have been spent here.

Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous is a quick read that might have some readers rethinking their own social media practices. I suggest this as a library read.

Wow. Just wow. I LOVED this novel. This novel is so timely and so relevant. Sonny was internet famous at a young age when a video her mom posted of her in goggles went viral. Sonny has been chasing that same level of fame ever since that one viral video. She posts and obsesses over internet day in and day out to the point where she's sacrificing her in person relationships with her family and friends. Her school puts her on warning for all her internet use and then... a scandal happens: #browniegate. That was the last straw even if it pushed Sonny back into internet fame. Her school recommends a digital detox camp and her parents agree. So Sonny is sent off to a farm in the middle of no where with VERY limited internet access. Only one problem occurs - Sonny is finalist in an online contest and she needs to submit videos and content while at detox camp. So enlists the aide of her best friend - and a new camp friend. She obtains a contraband phone and makes a music video parody of farm life... but... will she post it.. because while she thought she would hate every minute of real life on a farm, she's actually grown to like bits and parts of it. She especially likes a certain son of the owner" Theodore (after the chipmunk, not the president).
The ending was not what I expected; I was pleasantly surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Actual rating: 4.5 out of 5


Sunny Sunhee Song had a taste of fame early in her life and now, during her last summer of high school, she wants the fame again, but bigger! And she does get the fame, but not in the best way she expects. A video of her becomes viral and gets her sent to a digital detox camp because her parents and her school think she’s addicted to the internet—they might not be wrong.

I used to read a lot of summer books like this one and girl, I missed it. The feeling you get when you read about summer adventures, drama, and romance!! Sunny didn’t like the idea of spending her last summer in high school in a digital detox camp, but I would do anything just to be outside right now, in a camp, forming new friendships like her. I miss having summer trips and the writing of this book make me miss it more.

One thing I loved about this book is our main character. She’s ambitious and she would do anything to achieve her dreams. But most of all is her character development!! This book got one of the best character developments I have read.

Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous is a light and cute read but it’s still able to leave you a lesson and change your view of life, of the internet. That’s the best thing in this book. It’s a quick and easy read but the lesson you get is something you will carry long after you finish the book. Give this one a try and see for yourself.

Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous by Suzanne Park is out now! If you need a funny, quick read for summer, this is the perfect novel. I wouldn’t quite call it a light read as it does touch on some serious topics but Park navigates these issues (bullying and everyday racism) with grace and humor.

Sunny has had a social media presence since she was a young kid and has worked hard to build on her following, much to the disappointment of her parents and school administrators. She is sent to a digital detox farm camp in Iowa for a month and experiences some much needed growth and a little romance, too.

As a bookstagrammer, I appreciate the message of this novel in regard to the pitfalls and possibilities of social media. Thank you to Let’s Talk Books for having me along on this tour.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars

Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous is an adorable, hilarious YA contemporary about a high schooler who is building a social media empire until she accidentally goes viral with a less than flattering video and is sent to a digital detox camp in Iowa. There she finds friendship, love (hot farmer!), and herself outside of social media.

This was such an enjoyable read that made me laugh out loud multiple times. I absolutely loved Sunny’s narration. The dialogue was sharp, quick, and sarcastic. The plot of a social media detox camp was fun and unique and Park created equally hilarious side characters who added so much to the story. The romance was well done and whenever those two characters were in a scene together it was perfection. The banter. The dynamic. I loved it all.

Overall, Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous is the perfect summer YA read featuring great characters, fun dialogue, and a memorable main character. I need a Netflix movie adaptation.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly? This made me take a harder look at my social media habits. Last summer, I was constantly comparing myself to other bookstagrammers. I still do sometimes, but now I know that there are certain times during the month where it's best to put my phone away and live in the moment. I've started to request less ARCs, which has made me find books that are a lot better than the ones I read in 2016/2017 because I pressured myself to read more. I've learned that I don't need to post everyday, and like this book taught me, what matters is the friends you make in your life and that meaningful connections (while they can be made over a screen) come from turning off the screen.

When I first heard of the title of a new YA by Suzanne Park - Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous; I was thrilled with title. It’s sort of a gives the reader an idea how Sunny, the MC wants to be internet famous by subscribers/likes but she won’t be famous anytime soon. It’s a catchy title and I believe this is a great book for teens/YA readers. Suzanne has such a natural writing pose so the story is really fun and great book. I especially liked how MC is a bit self absorbing and bratty because weren’t we all as teenagers?! It’s really realistic and funny moments in the story got me cracking out loud while reading. I can NOT wait for Suzanne’s adult novel coming out later this year. She’s definitely an auto buy author for me.

Well this was just a fun little YA summer camp romance! This was my second book my Suzanne Park and I liked it a LOT more than the first one. This story dove into the positives and negatives of social media in a very digestible way.

3 things I really liked about this novel:
1. Our main character, Sunny! She was relatable, funny, and honest.
2. The descriptions of the settings. I felt like I was at the farm, sweating and struggling with Sunny.
3. The whole concept of giving these teens a social media detox. Something a lot of us need!

2 growth points for this book:
1. I think this story would've benefitted from a dual timeline. I would've enjoyed being in Theo's head!
2. I think not delving further into the dangers of social media (bullying, specifically) was a bit of a missed opportunity. That is something all readers can benefit from, even myself, a relatively seasoned social media user.

Overall, I think Sunny and Theo will capture the hearts of many! 3.5 stars.

Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous by Suzanne Park

Thank you @penguinteen for the eARC. Sunny Song will be released on 6/1!

What could be a more perfect YA read for an avid bookstagrammer than a book about a Korean-American teen influencer from Los Angeles whose parents ship her off to a digital detox camp for the summer in the middle of rural Iowa? Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous was such a cute summer read, light and easy with just the right amount of romance sprinkled in. Park also touches upon some themes related to Sunny’s racial and cultural identity, and I really loved those parts of the story. The overall message was simple, but it’s one that I’m sure a lot of younger readers (and anybody who finds themselves a little too addicted to social media) will resonate with. It’s not too deep, but it doesn’t try to be, and it’s an ideal read if you’re looking for something fun to help you get into the summer spirit.

2.7/5 stars.

Sunny Song Will Never Be Famous is a cute coming of age novel that focuses on the use of technology in young people. I was initially excited about reading this lighthearted novel. but it fell flat for me. There was little development in plot or character development, and I felt like the resolution came far too quickly and easily at the end. I liked the message behind it, about technology of course not being entirely bad as it can bring people together, but it seemed like it jumped to that part far too quickly.

while i was initially excited to read this, i found myself kind of disappointed. sunny's circumstances and those of the people around her gave the book and its characters a very unrealistic sort of feeling. what's more, the problems with sunny's family also seemed to become resolved off screen, which took away from a lot of potential development. however, sunny's introspection, development, and thoughts about her diaspora experience resonated with me. thank you for this ARC!

A beyond fun YA that is perfect for the start of summer! Sunny Song has a plan for the summer.
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Make Rafael her boyfriend, hit 100k followers and have the best summer ever. Plans go awry when she shares a baking video which turns into a Pg-13 video, that is a bit risky. The video went viral and sent her packing to a digital detox farm in Iowa.
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Beyond angry at her parents but determined to still win an online competition she must use her resourcefulness and the help of friends To come out on top. What she doesn’t expect is to develop real friendships and different experiences when the digital life is uninvolved.
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Side note I also loved her writing postcards for the first time ever! I used to love the novelty of sending and receiving postcards. I hate to sound 107 but I miss an easier time of lazy summer days and a postcard sent on a summer vacation!
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If you enjoy YA this is the perfect book to add to your summer reading list!
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I got this as an ARC on NetGalley!!

I liked this book. I thought it was easygoing and lighthearted. It was easy to read as I could read multiple chapters and not get tired at all. I thought that the main character, Sunny, was quite relatable, as I come from an Asian family myself, however, she was usually immature. I also thought that the other characters were kinda boring and flat. Although I enjoyed it, it didn't stand out to me. Like there was nothing that made this memorable.

3/5

This is the third of Suzanne's books I've read, and I think I've got her pegged now. (That sounds awful, I don't mean it to.) These are fun but slightly frothy romcoms featuring Korean-Americans and often some kind of online activity. I always love reading about influencers and thisd book didn't disappoint.

An example of froth; I don't know anything about the wannabe boyfriend, Rafael Kim, except that Sunny has a crush on him. He barely features and he's not talked about, because his role is Wrong One First; he doesn't need a personality, he just needs to be different from Right One Last. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but a couple of scenes in school would have meant I cared more about whether Sunny would get him or not.

Everything is like that. I enjoyed the read, please don't get me wrong, but it all could have done with a little more depth. Time at the camp seemed to leap by very quickly in odd chunks - Sunny arrived, then it was three days later, then it was two weeks, then three, then home time - and it just felt strange. I really enjoyed all the things that were happening, and I guess I want more of them. Even the 'issues' - an instance of racism against Sunny, and the central issue of whether 'tech' is bad - were skimmed over very lightly. The online comunity can be a wonderful, accepting place, and it's a shame we didn't see more of that; we only heard about three influencers despite the wealth of other online experiences in the camp. Let's hear more about the esports guy, or the online comedian!

If you go into this expecting a fun, light teenage romcom, you'll really enjoy it and even laugh out loud at spots. If you think you're getting an indepth discussion, or learning how to deal with your teenager, you'll be disappointed. But that's ok. Sometimes you just need something light and fun, and that's exactly this book.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire + NetGalley for the e-ARC of SUNNY SONG WILL NEVER BE FAMOUS by Suzanne Park. Expected pub date: June 1, 2021.

What a fun summer read! Definitely add SUNNY SONG to your summer TBR!
Books that seem light, but actually tackle heavy and important topics are my favorite and SUNNY SONG does just that. Finding out that real life connections are more important than social ones, including romance, friends, and family. Suzanne Park is completely an auto-read author for me.

This was the exactly the light and fun YA Beach read that I needed. Sunny was adorable and relatable and I loved how she came full circle. Her parents were frustrating and fairly one dimensional but I still enjoyed the story as a whole. Her villain was also a wee flat and unrealistically antagonistic but still a super solid story!

Sunny Song is a teenage social media influencer. She’s always on her phone, obsessed with her social media and spends most of her time thinking of content to amp up her likes/comments/followers. Her family ceases to exist when she’s in front of a gadget. When a YouTube live video of her wearing an old sports bra while baking brownies went viral, her parents had enough! Her school principal also threatened to expel her, unless she goes to a digital detox camp. So, her parents sent her to a farm in Iowa for a month. Yes, there’s such a thing as digital detox camp. I think it’s cool that a farm would come up with this idea! Exchanging gadgets for milking cows? Learning how to make beef jerky instead of creating content? Why not! This doesn’t sound too extreme for me. In fact, I’d be interested to have the experience! But people who are addicted to gadgets and social media naturally would be appalled living for a month without their beloved phones or internet connection!!! Reading this was so fun! I love Sunny! Yes, she’s glued to her phone all the time but I admire her for being ambitious and for being smart enough to use her platform to earn moolah. But of course, as parents, we want our kids to have that balance of enjoying life and other activities instead of just the superficial online presence so I can definitely understand the parental reaction of shipping Sunny off to detox camp. I also love reading about the senior citizens who are digitally-challenged. One of them referred to tiktok as Tic Tac and another kept on saying hashbrowns instead of hashtags!!! 🤣🤣🤣 Aside from the obvious lessons we expect from being away from social media, what I loved about this book is the inclusion of often overlooked topics of casual racism and microaggressions. These were mentioned in the story and were handled beautifully! Kudos to the author for adding these elements to educate others about racism. Sometimes, just opening up the conversation can lead to enlightenment. I highly recommend this YA novel to everyone, especially to social media-obsessed people!😁 Rating: 4.5/5