I was excited to read this book, especially since it touches on themes I usually enjoy—romance, body positivity, and female entrepreneurship—and while there were moments that showed promise, it ultimately didn’t quite land for me. The story leaned a bit too heavily into glamorized consumerism and a level of NYC privilege that felt somewhat out of touch.

Thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Freshly divorced and feeling insecure while swimsuit shopping, Sunny decides to take hold of her life and starts dating and pursuing her own plus size swim brand.

I enjoyed this one as Sunny is a confident leading lady and shows how to be accepting of your body. We follow her journey in finding herself post-divorce including her messy dating in NYC, newfound friendships, and pursuing new dreams.

I do think her business success was a bit unbelievable and came too easily, but otherwise found this one entertaining to listen to. If you're looking for a light beach read this summer I recommend picking this one up.

3.5 stars. Sunny Side Up is a romantic comedy about divorced, 35-year-old Sunny, who runs her own boutique PR firm and is finding her way after a painful divorce. I have mixed feelings about this one. It is a lighthearted, funny, and spicy, but a bit frustrating at times and unrealistic. Sunny has always “struggled” with her weight and has been subject to comments about it from her mother and others around her. I think if you have body issues, this could be triggering to read.

It frustrated me that someone who said she was previously a 12/14 and 5'11" was obsessed with her large size. Tall, sure, but she’s not obese, probably not even overweight at that dress size! Maybe I'm odd in that I don’t constantly fret about my size/weight even though I am overweight. She had gained some weight post-divorce, and I can understand the anxiety that comes with dramatic weight gain. I really appreciated that she was able to accept her new body and understand its utility.

Sunny starts to date again throughout the novel and gets into some pretty entertaining antics. The love triangle was fun and spicy. Dennis and Ted are compelling characters and it’s fun to see Sunny date them. Sunny’s career moves swimmingly as she has her own PR company and creates a new line of swimwear. The lack of any roadblocks made it a bit unrealistic, but it was a fun ride to be on.
I listened to the audiobook, which was well-narrated by Yael Rizowy. She had such entertaining delivery, especially with dialogue within the novel.

Thank you Celadon and NetGalley for providing this ebook/audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 STARS⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

With its infectious charm, "Sunny Side Up" immediately brightened my reading experience. From laugh-out-loud moments to thoughtful reflections and fervent cheers for Sunny, this book grabbed me instantly. Sturino's honest portrayal of life's complexities—friendships, family, and navigating the ups and downs of relationships and personal growth—resonated deeply. I could feel her authenticity in her writing. Sturino masterfully blends humor with touching insights, creating a narrative that's both relatable and captivating. I devoured this five-star gem in a single listen and was genuinely sad to reach the end.

I wish I’d written this review right after I finished because, unfortunately, it wasn’t memorable enough for me to write a specific review.

That said, I enjoyed the author’s writing style and the very positive take on female friendships. I found myself flinching quite a bit at the never ending references to body size. (Yes. I realize that is a major plot point. But it felt super excessive and jarring.)

I wish Sunny Side Up were a real blog I could read. The posts were silly but lively and remind me of a very clear moment in time where we were all TMI-ing all over the internet.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy!

I am normally very very picky about reading books with plus size characters. As a plus size woman, it is extremely difficult to put into words and decipher how I want to feel about myself, how others say I should feel about myself, and how I actually feel about myself and my body. Katie has successfully accomplished this and it was so beautiful to read. The situations Sunny found herself in had me cackling! To me, this book wasn’t about the romance (although that was really fun to read). It was about not being afraid to live my life, to be confidnet as I am today. I truly felt validated and represented in this story and I hope other women feel the same way.

A delightful and hilarious novel about a plus sized fashionista who decides to take a stand for size inclusive swimwear. The style, the heart, and the sizzling romance make this a charming page turner!

Sunny has it all. She's only in her mid-thirties, but she has achieved great career success with her own business. However, she is hard on herself, because she is recently divorced, and she feels she is overweight. This wonderful, engaging book is Sunny's journey through feeling more positive about herself and her body as it is, and finding romance as her authentic self. I look forward to recommending this title.

This was a treat. I loved the body positivity and having a female main character who was real and flawed. The fact that this book represents all types of bodies and that men still find them desirable was relatable and enjoyable. I look forward to more books by Katie Sturino! Thanks NetGalley for the arc!

If you’re looking for a fun, feel-good read that’s all about self-love, second chances, and some seriously messy—but hilarious—dating adventures, Sunny Side Up is a perfect pick. Sunny Greene is freshly divorced, navigating the plus-size fashion world, and juggling romance with plenty of laughs along the way. She’s relatable, sassy, and totally inspiring—kind of like a modern-day Carrie Bradshaw with a big heart. I think you’ll love how real and upbeat her story is. It’s a great choice if you want something lighthearted but meaningful with a strong dose of confidence and humor.

☀️ Book Review: Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino

If you're searching for a refreshing, body-positive rom-com, look no further than Sunny Side Up. Katie Sturino's debut novel introduces Sunny Greene, a 35-year-old publicist navigating life after a divorce. Her journey of self-acceptance and body positivity is both inspiring and relatable.

Why You'll Love It:

Authentic Protagonist: Sunny's evolution from self-doubt to confidence is portrayed with authenticity, making her a protagonist readers can root for.

Engaging Writing: Sturino's writing is sharp and engaging, with witty dialogue and well-developed characters.

Uplifting Themes: The novel delves into themes of friendship, love, and personal growth, providing moments of both tenderness and tension.

Final Thoughts:
While the plot occasionally leans into predictability, the book's charm lies in its uplifting message and the strength of its central character. Sunny Side Up is a feel-good read that encourages embracing one's true self.

I thoroughly enjoy Sturino's social media presence alongside her body positivity advocacy, so of course I was happy to scoop up her first novel, Sunny Side Up. Her FMC, Sunny Greene, is just like many of us: in her mid-thirties, successful, single, and not looking forward to attending her brothers' nuptials alone. She's also plus-sized, much to her chagrin. (I mean, how hard is it for Bergdorf Goodman to carry plus-sized clothing that is ACTUALLY cute?) Readers join Sunny as she moves through her own body positivity and the challenges of dating in NYC in what is a humorous and light-hearted debut.

Love and success look different to everybody, and Sturino emphasizes this with Sunny's story. This will be a perfect (and inspiring) poolside read this summer. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an uplifting, fun book! Loved Sunny and her outlook on life, even when things weren’t going her way. This was very relatable.

Sunny Greene owns a PR firm, lives in a great apartment in her favorite part of NYC and has her rescue dogs while coping with her recent divorce and when she’s preparing for a trip with her newfound friends she will have to confront self-esteem issues that have plagued her life.
Deciding to turn the page after her trip, with an idea for a new enterprise and under pressure to find a date for her brother’s wedding, she will end up dating a down to earth mailman and a charming tycoon while her ex-husband will try to crawl into the mix.
This was my first read by the author and not at all what I was expecting. The book left me with mixed feelings about Sunny’s journey as I came to love her empowerment, how she takes on a new venture without neglecting her existing business and takes control of her life as a whole, but I was not board with other things. Still the story is a good read and I know other people with a different mindset will love it from beginning to end.

Move over Sex in the City and Mr. Big. We’ve got Sunny and she owns this city and her own fashion and her big messy online presence and irl messes. I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love. My only regret in reading the preview is not getting to listen and encounter the story through audio for the first time.

With an ex husband and a career that isn’t what she wants—yet!—Sunny Greene is at a tipping point. Will she accept defeat or strive for what she wants? And as she does, who will she become and what will she sacrifice to get there? While deep questions, they are presented in an irreverent voice that I’ll follow all around the big city. Super fun story with a great resolution.

Sunny Side Up is a very uplifting novel putting women in the right image for themselves not for anyone else.

Sunny is a successful business woman living her dream in NYC. Unfortunately her dream of a successful marriage wasn’t to be.Sunny is now a successful divorced woman who has tried to get back into the dating life. With the help of her two best friends she does try the dating life with not much success. Then with her friends and a trip to the islands Sunny realizes she can never find a swimsuit she likes for her body type. So on this trip an idea was born. Plans are put into place and at the same time her love life goes into full swing. Can you say Silver Fox and Me. postman?

I really loved this book. I read it in one day. I loved the message it sent to women of a specific size. The friends made from divorce. How this three successful businesswomen always built each other up. Sunny came into her own and stood on her own two feet. She took changes, made mistakes especially with men but took her lumps and moved on. Very impressive character well written. Beautifully written story with a great message.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC. Bravo to the author!!!!!

Great debut fiction by Sturino.
I loved the female friendships. The story was not predictable which is nice to see. The author really got her point across about body diversity and acceptance.

This was a fun, fast read. It’s the kind of book you can bring on vacation or finish in a weekend. I liked the premise: a confident, plus-sized woman starting over after a divorce and deciding it’s time to put herself first. Sunny is bold, stylish, and ready to date again while chasing a new business dream. The body-positive message and sense of reinvention were both refreshing.

At the same time, I had mixed feelings. The story leans heavily into privilege, and that made it harder to connect at times. While Sunny’s size is relatable, her lifestyle really isn’t. She lives in a gorgeous New York apartment, shops at Bergdorf’s, revives her business effortlessly, and just seems to win at everything she tries. It didn’t feel like there was much on the line, which made her journey less compelling.

The romance storylines were light and cute, but they felt predictable. I also found myself wanting more emotional depth. The book touches on self-love and personal growth, but it stays pretty surface-level. I kept waiting for a moment of real vulnerability or reflection that never quite came. It was like the setup was there, but the follow-through was missing.

Some of the writing also felt a little forced, especially the dialogue. At times it came off more like social media captions than real conversation. It made it harder to fully believe in Sunny as a character, even though I liked the idea of her.

Still, this book will definitely appeal to readers looking for a quick and stylish escape. If you enjoy light, fashion-forward stories with strong female leads and a dose of romance, this could be a great pick. I just personally wanted a little less gloss and a little more grit.

Thanks to NetGalley (Edelweiss) and Publisher for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily. I thought this quote from the author was on point: “Sunny is a necessary hero in today’s world where women are told they need to look a certain way to find love or success.”

I was absolutely on board with this book! Portraying a female character who is heavier than the cookie cutter heroines we normally read is a great way to show body positivity and being comfortable in one’s own skin. It’s something to cheer about. Another positive is that the main character is in her mid-30s and divorced. Normally, someone that age has had a series of breakups and is closed off to love, but that’s not the case here.

This is the type of book that is the perfect beach read/summer novel. Narrated by Yael Rizowy, I thought they did an excellent job and would definitely listen to something of theirs again,

3.5⭐️. This was a story that many women can relate to dealing with ideals society sets up that are impossible to meet. Sunny was a very relatable character and I really enjoyed her and her “First wives club”. She goes through a lot of work to accept herself for who she is. I loved that she was a smart, very capable woman and that she accomplished her goals on her own.