I really wanted to like this one since I love the authors social media content and interviews on podcasts but I just didn't click with it. I liked the body positivity in the first half and Sunny's initial journey but then it just got so heavy handed and overdone. I didn't really care for the romance and didn't feel much chemistry with the mmc. I would've rather had more content with the other divorced friends and their friendships.

3.5 stars. This was a good read, but felt more like a self help book than a romance a lot of the time. That had a lot to do with the fact that most of the conflict in the book arises from Sunny’s head and not outside forces. And don’t even get me started on the impossibility of launching a clothing line that quickly—it ain’t gonna happen.. I know…book magic, but as a former fashion designer it bugged me the way that publishing magic in books probably irks publishing folks. all in all enjoyable, but not going to be on that i read over and over again.

3.5 stars. The other reviewers who compared this book to Sex and the City were SPOT ON. While I loved the body positivity/business aspect of this book, throughout the book, I did feel really feel for the beaus that she was stringing along, so I wasn't a huge fan of her dating choices, and I understand why the conflict at the end occurred. I do anticipate that this will be a big book of the summer= it publishes June 24, 2025!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review,

I adored this book! While I am not full sized, I can partially relate to the body image issues that Sunny dealt with and I loved how she attacked them head on! I loved all the characters in the book as well and thought they all were developed nicely. Would love to if there was a follow up to this story that gave us a deeper look into Noor and Brooke as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the early read in exchange for my honest review.

First and foremost, I absolutely LOVED this book!

The story follows Sunny Greene, a 35-year-old plus-size woman navigating life after her divorce. As she prepares for a girls' trip, she faces the challenge of finding plus-sized bathing suits at Bergdorf Goodman—a struggle that hits close to home, given her lifelong battle with body image issues. Determined to regain her confidence and prioritize herself, Sunny embarks on a journey of self-discovery, supported by her successful PR business and close friends.

Throughout the story, readers witness her confront insecurities while embracing resilience and the importance of true friendship. Sunny's journey highlights that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, making it relatable for anyone navigating their self-worth.

This is my first read from Sturino and will not be my last! I loved her writing style, quick pacing, and relatable story. The book will resonate with anyone struggling with self-worth and body image, showing that there’s a little bit of Sunny in all of us. The humor in the narrative made it an enjoyable read, and I found myself constantly laughing. I highly recommend this book!

A quote I loved: "How many of us were rewriting ourselves, halfway through our story, when we though we'd already had an ending?"

Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino is a novel about a fashion forward, larger woman who after a lifetime of people telling her to lose weight has accepted herself, her weight and how fabulous she is. Or so she says. Her ex husband occupies too much space in her head, as does her weight and whether she'll ever find another man. She finds two and obsesses over which to choose. Her obsessive nature says she hasn't quite accepted herself as she is, nor does she have the confidence she seems to exude in her workplace. That for me, was a drawback to this novel. I didn't find her to be the strong character she wanted to be. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

The importance of Self-Acceptance body positivity are such a relatable topic that I was genuinely excited to read this book and was really wanting to love it. HOWEVER, for a character that is supposed to be relatable, I had a hard time rooting for her. We met Sunny when she was climbing out of being at her lowest, but somehow EVERYTHING she did was somehow a huge success. The idea of body positivity is supposed to be woven into the story, but there is so much of it that it gets heavy handed and almost feels like Sunny picked one of her blogs and tried to expand it into this novel. For a book that tries so hard to promote self-acceptance and body positivity, it lacks character depth and growth in every other way. It was a quick, easy read and has so much potential.

Katie Sturino’s Sunny Side Up is the perfect blend of humor, heart, and self-love. Following Sunny Greene—a plus-sized, newly divorced PR powerhouse—this novel takes us on a journey of confidence, friendship, and dating mishaps as she learns to embrace herself fully.

With witty writing and a relatable heroine, this book is as empowering as it is entertaining. Between the charming mailman, the high-powered businessman, and an ex who won’t stay gone, Sunny’s love life is a delightful rollercoaster. If you love body-positive rom-coms with strong friendships and a fabulous NYC backdrop, this one’s for you!

✨ Final Verdict: Uplifting, funny, and full of heart—Sunny Side Up is a must-read for fans of feel-good fiction.

⭐ 4.5/5 sunny smiles! ☀️☀️☀️☀️✨

𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠

📖📖📖📖

Thank you to @netgalley, @katiesturino, and @celadonbooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I believe this is my first read by this author, but it won’t be my last. Her writing is fast paced and witty. As you all know, I love fast paced.

Sunny Greene is thirty-five, recently divorced, and struggling with body image. She is outrageously successful and things just seem to fall in her lap. After an unsuccessful shopping trip for a bathing suit, Sunny is inspired to create a swimwear line that is NOT for all the size zero’s. Talk about a personal connection!

On top of all of this, Sunny needs a date to her brother’s wedding. Cue Mr. Postman, the Silver Fox, and the construction guy. AND, Sunny’s blog will make you wish it was actually real!

This book is so relatable for so many people. People that don’t feel good enough, struggle with body image issues, lack self confidence. I think there can be a little of that inside all of us. The book is also written with hilarious wit and I laughed out loud more than once!

For me, I felt like Sunny just had everything given to her. Everything just always seemed to go Sunny’s way. That part was just ok for me.

I would for sure add this one to your list.

#arc #imalreadyhungry #sunny

Sunny Side Up is set for release on June 24, 2025. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me access to an advanced digital copy!

⭐️⭐️.5

TL;DR: This is a fun and fast read with some issues. While well-written, this story is dripping, nay oozing with privilege. The story is very low-stakes and could essentially be summarized by saying that a rich and confident woman goes on a few dates, starts a company, and gets richer and more confident. 2.5 stars from me but I could see this being a popular beach read.

I asked for this galley because I've been a longtime follower of the author, Katie Sturino. Katie is known for being a body-neutral influencer and running the natural beauty company Megababe, which offers products to help with sometimes embarrassing issues, like thigh chafing.

I was excited to read a book from Katie, especially one with such a beautiful front cover, but my excitement was already waning in the first pages.

We open with Sunny Greene, the book's protagonist, hunting for bathing suits with her thin friends, Brooke and Noor. Sunny is around 275 pounds, having recently gained 40 pounds after her divorce from sports podcaster Zack. Zack was critical of Sunny's weight and personality, which made her self-conscious.

Unable to find any suits in her size at Bergdorf Goodman, she asks an employee for help and is taken to a more secluded area of the store where she is offered a few unimpressive choices. She goes into the dressing room to find that these suits also don't fit, and she gets stuck in one.

While being stressed in the dressing room is a relatable issue, it also has to be the most cliche way of showing that a plus-sized character is struggling (as a note, I've been plus-sized for the majority of my life, so this is where I'm coming from with this review). I wanted a fresher take at the beginning of the novel and it didn't draw me in, because I was worried this could be an entire book of cliche situations. I will say that the dressing room comes full circle at the end of the book... but I also have an issue with the end. I'll get to that later.

Sunny, Brooke, and Noor are all recent divorcees, which is what brought them together, and they are shopping for their upcoming divorcation. Noor is a big deal in the restaurant industry and Brooke is a stylist coming back to her career after staying home with her three kids.

Sunny runs a successful PR agency and has a new assistant named Avery. Honestly, I wish we got to know Avery a lot better. Sunny talks about her, says they become like sisters, but we never really see it on the pages. We find out a lot more about Brooke and Noor, who Sunny only sees for drinks and texts often.

Early on in the book, Sunny is looking at her body in the mirror and notices a construction worker looking at her through her window. At first, she closes her blinds, embarrassed, but then hypes herself up and ends up getting naked and reopening the blinds, giving the guy a show.

This is a major issue in the book for me. I know that Sunny is supposed to be a badass and that the idea of body positivity is supposed to be woven into the story, but there is a huge lack of character growth throughout the book. While sometimes Sunny seems self-conscious in the book, we also have scenes like this, where she's showing off naked in front of a stranger, which is something I'm not sure even the most confident person would do. The book somehow wants you to believe that Sunny is already proud of her body and yet also embarrassed by it. While I know that body dysmorphia, or even just life can lead you to have different views of your body day to day, this didn't work in the book for me. Clearly, Sunny is confident at the beginning of the book, and I'm not sure that this changes at all during the story.

Sunny ends up meeting the construction worker on the street and inviting him to "hang up" things in her apartment. He comes over and they sleep together. Sunny is thrilled because now her ex isn't the last person she slept with. This relationship ends up not going anywhere, which is fine and realistic, but I wish that we didn't spend so much time getting to know this guy when he was literally just there for a one-night stand. Also, this man is described as handsome and muscular, which is the same way all of the men Sunny dates are described. If I were a guy reading this book (which is not the target market) I'd be wondering where the body inclusivity for men is.

Sunny is motivated to date because she hopes to bring someone to her brother's wedding in a few months.

We find out that Sunny used to have a popular newsletter called Sunny Side Up, which, with Avery's encouragement, she starts back up. The newsletter is a mix of Sunny's dating life and fashion advice for all sizes, and as soon as Sunny revives the newsletter, it's a huge hit. (We will soon find out that everything Sunny does is pretty much a hit.)

On their divorcation, which was honestly barely described even though it was mentioned a ton before it happened, Brooke and Noor convince Sunny that she should start a bathing suit line with her tailor after she shows up to the beach in a completely revamped Amazon suit.

When Sunny gets back to the office, she tells Avery about her new business idea, which turns into a swimwear line called SONNY. Thanks to Brooke and Noor's connections, Sunny gets a meeting with an investor who she and Avery research to find he is handsome and muscular. He also has salt and pepper hair that gets him the title "Silver Fox" in her newsletter.

She also notices her handsome and muscular mailman during this time.

Sunny pitches her company to the finance guy with a speech that could be pulled from any size-positive company's website, but it's seen as prolific and she immediately gets the funding she needs.

Before long, she starts a sexual relationship with the finance man, Ted, and also starts going on sweet dates with the mailman, Dennis, known in her newsletter as "The Postman."

A lot of hooking up happens, and I will say that Sturino writes spicy scenes well. They were descriptive but also not over the top, and I considered them a highlight of the book.

As we get closer to the launch party for SONNY, Sunny's feelings get complicated. She feels like she isn't fully meshing with Ted, especially after he pushes her to put her swimsuits in a large department store, but only in straight sizes, showing he doesn't truly care about the business, but they continue to hook up. She feels intimately close to Dennis, but he seems hesitant because he's been hurt before. Sunny starts to feel guilty for seeing them both even though her friends insist that adults see other people until they define the relationship.

Sunny's ex asks her to meet him for a drink after they run into each other at a Knicks game she goes to with Ted and she briefly wonders if he wants to get back together, which she has mixed feelings about. But it turns out that he's noticed her success and wants her to join his podcast network. She hesitates to answer him.

Finally, the launch party happens and it is (shocker) a huge success. Sunny immediately makes a ton of money and no one thinks it's weird that she's wearing a swimsuit with a blazer to the party? She decides she's going to tell Ted it's over, but as soon as she finishes her speech, Ted comes over and kisses her... right in front of Dennis, who leaves.

Sunny runs into Zack and his girlfriend, who she confirms Zack had been cheating on her with, even before they were engaged. (The whole time I was reading, I didn't understand why Zack would even propose to Sunny. He seemed just as miserable in the relationship as she was, he didn't need her money, and he honestly didn't have any reason to get married and then dramatically ask for a divorce three months later?) Sunny takes this opportunity to decline Zack's podcast invitation, and his girlfriend lets it slip that he was going to get a huge bonus if he signed her.

Sunny gets a text from Dennis that says he knows about the newsletter and he feels used, and tells her he doesn't want anything to do with it.

Sunny is crushed and tries to reach out to Dennis, but he doesn't answer. She admits defeat and writes an emotional (in which I think she still promotes her business) newsletter, saying that she fell in love but messed it up. She goes to her brother's wedding, but as she starts down the aisle, she spots Dennis. After the ceremony, he tells her that Avery showed him the newsletter and helped him find an outfit for the wedding. They tell one another they love each other, and Sunny gets her happy ending because honestly, not much has gone wrong for Sunny.

The book ends with Sunny and Dennis prepping for a trip, once again shopping at Bergdorf's, when Sunny hears a woman crying in the dressing room, like she was at the beginning of the book. She grabs a few SONNY swimsuits and goes to the woman's dressing room to save the day, which is the last line of the book. Only... the book said that the SONNY swimsuits were openly displayed in the store. The woman would have already seen them and either decided that she didn't like them, that they were too expensive, or maybe she was wearing one right now, crying! I have no idea how Sunny's intrusion would have helped.

Which brings me to the thing that was a MASSIVE issue in this book for me: The sizing may have been inclusive, but the cost of Sunny's products and lifestyle was not. Sunny is literally one of the most privileged characters I've ever seen, even if she is nice. It's almost like Sturino focused so hard on being relatable when it came to weight and size that she completely forgot that not everyone reading was a millionaire. I know many stories are meant to make you dream about a lifestyle, but even Carrie Bradshaw had debt and some real-life problems.

Even Sunny's idea for a swimsuit line was dripping with privilege. While it's universally known that there is a huge issue with sizing across all brands, many still only offering up to a size L or XL, Sunny seemed to only think her options for swimsuits were Bergdorf's and Amazon. What about Target? Lane Bryant? Land's End? Torrid? Swimsuits for All? Sure, these might not be designer items, but Sunny had the means to have her own custom swimsuit made. Anyone who was looking for a luxury swimsuit also had that option. The book made it seem like Sunny was creating a line for all of her newsletter followers, but really she was just creating something for her wealthy followers.

This combined with the constant brand name-dropping (Miu Miu, Chanel, Gucci, Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli...) definitely made me feel like Sunny was constantly hinting at her wealth, even if she sometimes took the time to be grateful for it. And I get it, she's a major boss! But I would have liked to see a character that was even slightly relatable in this sense.

All in all, this was fun and fast. I think it will be popular with beach-goers or anyone looking for a light summer read. It lacks substance, which I was really hoping for, but it is well-written. There are a few inconsistencies in the story, which may be fixed in the final book (referring to a character as someone's friend's roommate, then saying that it was the first person's roommate; saying that at the tailor's was the first time Sunny had smiled in a dressing room, but she'd been working with this tailor for ten years? This is the first time she was happy with it?)

It wasn't for me, but I see some draws to Sunny Side Up if you're obsessed with a happy ending.

Loved this! So fun and great writing. Really glad I got to read this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Katie Sturino!

The comparisons to Sex & the City were perfect, and the same things that annoyed me about the show annoyed me about the book. No idea how the newsletter got that popular, that fast; completely unrealistic “I’m going to start a company; oh look! Financing appears out of nowhere plus a hot dude who wants me!” Best friendships that don’t seem to be based on much but are still vital. The book was okay for a fluffy break from thinking about anything important.

Also the relationship with Dennis felt like it popped up out of nowhere - I think some scenes were cut but then the story didn’t adjust to make sense.

This was so cute and fun. I am a huge lover a rom-coms and this was just what I needed. I did struggle to relate to sunny as a character because I felt as through there wasn’t any real conflict and it was kind of like a fairy tale. BUT that being said. Everyone loves a fairytale. Especially with the nice weather coming in, this was the perfect book to read on a nice warm and sunny day. A very heartwarming debut novel. I loved seeing a plus-size mfc, we don’t see that nearly enough. The friendships, the self discovery, the dating mishaps all added up to an entertaining read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

(3.7 rounded up to 4)

In “Sunny Side Up,” a debut novel by Katie Sturino, the protagonist is Sunny Greene, a business owner of a PR firm in New York City. Despite her success, she is plagued by self-doubt following her recent divorce from Zack, who constantly ridiculed her because of her weight. She finds support from her recent friendship with Brooke and Noor, both divorcees who are each others’ champions. Trying to buoy her self-confidence, she starts dating and engaging in one night stands with men she finds appealing. Through successes and failures on the dating scene she boosts her morale with body acceptance self-talk, fun outings with her new best friends and restarting a self-acceptance blog.

I had mixed feelings about this book. On the positive side, Sunny was a character the reader wants to root for, with her post-divorce vulnerability and positive self-talk. In addition, her outings in New York and on vacation in the Bahamas with her friends were entertaining. On the negative side, the novel involved lengthy sections of “inner monologue” on Sunny’s part, which got old after awhile, as well as a lot more details about setting up a start-up than I was interested in reading. However, overall it was an entertaining read and should appeal to those who love character-driven novels with engaging protagonists.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing me an ARC of the novel in exchange for my honest review.

Katie Sturino’s The Problem with Perfect is a refreshing, laugh-out-loud, and empowering debut novel that celebrates self-love, body acceptance, and the unpredictability of dating. With a sharp and witty voice, Sturino introduces readers to Sunny Greene, a modern-day Carrie Bradshaw for the next generation.

At thirty-five, newly divorced Sunny is determined to embrace herself fully—no more self-doubt, no more trying to fit into an unrealistic mold. She has built a successful PR empire, has a stunning Chelsea apartment, and is surrounded by fiercely loyal friends. But navigating love post-divorce isn’t easy. With her little brother’s wedding looming, she’s on a mission: feel confident, date up a storm, and maybe, just maybe, find someone worth her time.

Enter two very different love interests: Dennis, the charming and genuine mailman who sees Sunny for who she truly is, and Ted, a business tycoon who could turn her dream of a size-inclusive swimsuit brand into reality. Just as she starts figuring things out, her ex unexpectedly reappears, adding another layer of chaos to her already complicated life.

Sturino shines in her ability to balance humor and heart, tackling society’s obsession with body image while crafting a story that is deeply relatable. The book seamlessly blends laugh-out-loud dating disasters, supportive female friendships, and heartfelt moments of self-acceptance. The incorporation of Sunny’s “First Wives Club” newsletters adds a clever and engaging touch.

More than just a rom-com, The Problem with Perfect is an uplifting journey of self-discovery, confidence, and redefining what happiness looks like. It’s a must-read for fans of Emily Henry, Sex and the City, and feel-good contemporary fiction.

I recently finished reading this book and I must say, it was a captivating and refreshing experience. From the moment I started the book, I was hooked by its grounded and relatable portrayal of romance.
The plot is incredibly realistic, which is something I truly appreciated. The love story unfolds at a pace that feels true to life—there are no unrealistic twists or melodramatic moments that often plague romantic novels. Instead, the characters face real-life challenges, personal growth, and emotional struggles that anyone can relate to. The story touches on themes of trust, vulnerability, and the importance of self-discovery before fully opening up to someone else.
What stood out most to me was the character development. The protagonist evolve throughout the book, and their emotional growth is depicted with such care. Their flaws, strengths, and vulnerabilities are portrayed in a way that makes them feel like real people, not just characters on a page. It’s rare to find a romance where the characters' emotional journeys are as important as their romantic connection, and [Book Title] does this beautifully. Their interactions felt authentic, and the relationship built naturally over time, making it all the more rewarding by the end.
This book made me reflect on my own experiences and left me with a sense of hope that love can grow in the most unexpected ways. It's a novel about finding love not just with someone else, but also with yourself. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a romance that feels real, with characters that are fully realized and a plot that keeps you invested from start to finish.

This read was definitely one for someone who loves a Sunny disposition in life. Imagine Barbie, Sex in the City, Cinderella wrapped into one. From fear of dressing rooms, low self esteem, awful tinder hookups and a newly divorced lifestyle...The real life horror stories no one wants to talk about. I loved the body positivity talks throughout the book because it really felt like a self help section on loving your body. Like we were part of her Sunny Side Up blog, telling us to love our selves while she was learning to do the same. The little bits of spiciness were an added plus too. A hot construction worker, a dashing mail delivery man and a silver fox 🥵

"Lastly, I have found peace within myself and a realization for the first time in my life that my body was never the problem."

"Your body is not the problem. You are worthy of everything you desire (weird sex, true love, a hobby, a raise, a nap, whatever) EXACTLY as you are right now."

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for sharing this with me for an honest review!

Thank you for this early copy of Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino. This is my first book by this author and I know I will be on the lookout for more.
This was a fun, quick read that had you rooting for Sunny all the way through. Body positivity vs body acceptance was the core of this read, a distinction I had never heard about before and 100% am with her. Female power and ownership of feelings were other hit upon topics.
All the characters were interesting in their own right and you would be very lucky to have the same core group of cheerleaders surrounding you.
One day though I am looking for the strong woman trope where the woman doesn’t have to be a superstar in business, doesn’t have to have all powerful superstar friends, and have readily available money to solve most problems. Not saying it wasn’t a fun read and I enjoyed it tremendously, many times I was laughing out loud and sharing passages of witty writing. But, maybe a normal, just getting by in a mundane job, with normal people in their lives book would be refreshing too.
Looking forward to more from this author.

Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino is a heartwarming and empowering debut novel that blends humor, romance, and self-discovery. The story follows Sunny Greene, a 35-year-old, recently divorced PR mogul navigating life in New York City. With her brother's wedding looming and her confidence shaken, Sunny embarks on a journey to embrace her body, rediscover her self-worth, and explore the ups and downs of dating. Sturino's writing is witty and relatable, capturing the challenges of body image and societal expectations with authenticity. Sunny's journey is both inspiring and entertaining, filled with laugh-out-loud moments, heartfelt friendships, and romantic twists. It's a feel-good read that celebrates self-love and resilience, perfect for fans of contemporary romance with a strong, relatable heroine.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨I’ve been following Katie on IG for a while now, so I was excited to read this one. The main character works in the fashion industry, which was an instant hook for me. The body image themes were also super relatable (though sometime a little preachy).

There were a few things that felt a little unrealistic. I read another review that pointed out how everything seemed to come too easily for Sunny. After getting divorce, she’s got two guys fighting over her within a year. Then she’s able to launch a brand in a few months and it’s immediately a success. 🤔

But overall it was a fast and enjoyable read. More books centered around the secondary characters please! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.