Sunny, newly divorced, is living her best life in NYC in this plus-sized Sex in the City novel. She owns her own fashion PR company, and when she's packing for a vacation and can't find a plus-sized bathing suit at Bergdorf Goodman, she starts her own swimsuit brand she names SONNY. She finds herself torn between 2 men, a wealthy hot investor and her sweet, handsome postman. Life is good for Sunny, and I love that for her. What I didn't love is that I didn't find the story realistic. While I like a fun beach read, this was a little too fluffy for me. I love the body positivity in this book, but I would have loved her to dig deeper. Maybe that's ok for most readers--this is a book you'll read, smile, and move on. Or maybe it will be made into a Netflix series. 3.5 stars rounded up.

📚: Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino
⭐️: 3/5

Meet Sunny Greene. She's 35, a former midwesterner turned Manhattan transplant, recently divorced, and... currently stuck in a swimsuit in the Bergdorf Goodman's dressing room. No, seriously, she is. And she feels like she's hit rock bottom.

Called the Carrie Bradshaw for the next generation (the synopsis of the book says this, not me), Sunny starts her life anew as she navigates dating, being a business owner, and her younger brother's wedding in her 30s.

This book grew on me, and ended up being an enjoyable - albeit predictable - fun read to quickly binge. Sunny's character starts out fairly insufferable (I actually questioned if I wanted to finish the book early on), but the story ends up coming together nicely by the midway mark onward.

Thanks to Celadon Books via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Sunny Side Up is out now.

I had trouble with this book because so much emphasis is put on the main character's weight and her lack of self worth due to her weight. As someone who is body positive, I felt this was a throwback to very old school mentality where value is measured by outer beauty. It felt hard to focus on other elements of the story as I found this harmful self-thought too distracting.

I wanted to love Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino, but unfortunately, I didn’t feel fully captured by the storyline. While I appreciate the overall message of body positivity and self-acceptance, the plot itself didn’t engage me as much as I had hoped. The pacing felt a bit slow at times, and I found it difficult to connect deeply with the characters or become emotionally invested in their journey.

That said, I recognize that the book may resonate more strongly with other readers, especially those who are fans of Katie Sturino’s voice and advocacy. It just didn’t quite hold my attention the way I expected.

Sometimes books come into a person's life at just the right time and this is one of those times. I adored the main character Sunny...from the start. It was great to have a main character that was in their mid thirty-someting age. Sunny was such a relatsble character and I just adored her. I loved her two best friends and the love and support they gave each other. I loved watching Sunny reinventing herself...her self refection and redefining her goals, wants and needs. This is all so relatable and the author did a wonderful job in writing about it. The parts in the book about body shaming, narcassits, gas lighting amd divorce also sonrelatable and so well done. I found myself writing little tidbits down that Sunny would say or her moments of clarities she would have througout the story. Needless to say, I adored this book and will be purchasing my own physical copy. I rated this a 4.5 star book and have already been recommending to friends.

Thank you MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

Sunny Side Up was a great read! I loved the premise and the story was told perfectly. Sunny is an important character in today's climate - we love rooting for a plus-size queen (like myself). This book will definitely be on my shelf!

Thank you again for the ARC!

What a delightful, inclusive summer read! I absolutely loved the characters and was rooting for Sunny and Dennis since they met. I really loved the witty, internal dialogue and the cute Golden Girls. Most of all, I loved how real and timely this book is. Women spend so much of their lives hating themselves, and it's time we start recognizing what we are worth, regardless of our clothing sizes.

Sunny Side Up had its sweet and empowering moments, and I appreciated the plus-size representation and message of self-love. Sunny’s journey post-divorce was relatable and occasionally charming, especially her dynamic with her friends and dogs. But the writing didn’t quite shine, and the love triangle felt a bit forced. It had potential, but ultimately wasn’t a standout for me.

What a fun summer read! I really enjoyed the FMC and her powerful/successful personality. It was refreshing to see such strong bonded female friendships. Sunny deserved happiness and I was rooting for her from page one.

DNF’d at 32%. It just was not holding my attention. I stepped away with the intention to eventually come back and try and finish it. Unfortunately, that did not happen.

Recently divorced Sunny Greene is thirty-five, on a race to find a date for her brother’s wedding, and trying to find anything not revolting in the plus-size swimsuit section of Bergdorf Goodman. The description of this book says she’s at rock bottom, and in some ways she is, but she has great friends and a thriving PR business that she built from the ground up. She’s just nursing a broken heart and years of being in a relationship that probably wouldn’t be called healthy. Sunny gets back on the dating scene, ultimately juggling two very different men: Dennis, a sweet, down to earth mailman, and Ted, a business tycoon interested in investing in Sunny’s new plan for an inclusive swimsuit line.

This book was a lot of fun. I enjoyed Sunny’s journey to accepting her body. I especially appreciated her thoughts around not going into the “body positivity” sphere which often feels unrealistic and pandering. Instead, she tries to get to a place of feeling neutral about her body. It’s just a body. Her dating antics were also fun, although it was definitely one of those books where you’re yelling at the main character not to make certain mistakes you know she’s going to make. Sunny does so in a fun, mostly self-aware way so it felt realistic and definitely part of her learning curve. I do have a bit of an issue with books about plus size characters always ending up with attractive, super fit men. I’m not saying this shouldn’t be an option, but it seems to be the only acceptable option in fiction which feels counter to the body-acceptance mantra. Still, I enjoyed this one and think readers looking for a fun romcom will love Sunny’s antics.

Yael Rizowy narrates and does a phenomenal job brining Sunny to life. She brought so much spunk and humor to the narration that I felt like I was friends with Sunny from the very first chapter. I’d definitely recommend the audiobook!

BEACH WEAR BEACH READ

This fantastic novel is a beach read for the rest of us. Many women, no matter what their size, are unhappy with their shape. This novel has a main character who has always struggled with her weight but eventually embraces her embraces her zoftig, sensual self and helps other women be body neutral. Although romantic relationships are a large part of this novel, it is really a story about a woman's relationship with herself. While she may be searching for wedding date, she is really also learning to love herself.

Summer time means swim wear and for most women finding a comfortable, flattering suit can be a challenge. But for a plus sized woman it can feel like diving into the ocean with out a life preserver. This novel begins with newly divorced Sunny Greene literally stuck in the dressing room, trapped in a bathing suit that doesn't fit. sunny has hit rock bottom. Her marriage is over. Her exes comments about her plus sized body still constantly play in her mental soundtrack. And she has gained even more weight since the divorce. When Sunny can't find a bathing suit that makes her feel sexy instead of uncomfortable and embarrassed, she decides to launch a line of cute suits that is size inclusive. She relaunches her blog to spread a message of size acceptance to other women and she starts dating again. The story is a bit unrealistic. The time frame for the business launch is impossible. There are men out there who prefer real women with curves, but the idea that Sunny finds that many men to date in such a short time frame, also seems like a bit of poetic license. That said, I loved this story.

I requested an advance copy of this novel from the publisher because the main character is overweight. I didn't realize at the time that author, Katie Sturino is an entrepreneur and influencer who spreads a message of body acceptance. Women are surrounded by media that idolize an unrealistic figure and even small women are usually unhappy with their bodies. The author and the main character both teach women to accept their size and spend their energy on other things in life. Too many women buy in to the message that they need to change their body. when I was young, I watched my mother on the dieting yoyo and promised myself not to diet unless their was a medical need. Even when I was young and small, I was never a bikini model. Now, as an overweight senior citizen, I rock the grey and still find what fits and flatters. I loved reading about a character who dressed for success and dressed for her figure instead of trying to fit the mold. Read this book for the fun story, but absorb the message too.

Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino was a pretty good read. I liked the body positivity and the storyline of Sunny finding herself again after a divorce. I didn’t feel too connected to the characters and the romance fell kind of flat but overall I enjoyed the book. Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC!

While this book had some good parts to it, such as Sunny's approach to feeling better about herself, and the mailman, but I just couldn't get into it. Giving it three stars because although it wasn't for me, it might be for others.

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This felt so fun and refreshing to read. Everyone comparing it to a modern day Carrie Bradshaw is right. It feels lighthearted but tugs at your heartstrings all the same. Its a perfect blend of rom‑com sweetness and career hustle.
Loved the authors writing style and will definitely be reading more from her!

The was an empowering novel about loving yourself and your body. About owning who you are, accepting it and living your life on your own terms. It reminded me of early Jennifer Weiner novels; which are on my top list of books for all time.

Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This cute, women’s fiction read has been everywhere and for good reason too.

It was wholesome, relatable, funny, and fun. The cast of characters was great, and the main character made me laugh and relate often. She was a strong woman who only continued finding strength in her journey. The romance was entertaining, but it didn’t steal the show away from the empowering messaging. All in all, I had a great time with this one.

Fans of positive self-talk, journeys of finding oneself, and stories set in NYC will love this one.

Not a memorable book for me.

The story is a quick read. You root for Sunny. It gives Bridget Jones Diary vibes. I just couldn’t get into the book.

"My brain replaced anxious thoughts with angry ones. Anger felt so much better. Power! Fury! Rage! Screw those swimsuits. Screw those dressing rooms. And screw my asshole ex-husband."

"Like I don’t know who or what to trust." "That’s easy. Trust yourself."

"Inhaling deeply, I pivoted, like I always did."

The uplifting, often hilarious, yet very real Sunny Side Up, by body acceptance guru, debut author Katie Sturino, will leave you inspired and smiling like you just watched your favorite RomCom. I definitely got Working Girl vibes.

We meet 35 year old divorced Sunny trying on swimsuits for her vacation with her divorced besties. But her plus size body isn't fitting into her usual size. Her side boob fat is sticking out and her thighs feel like the circulation has been cut off to her lungs. It's a panic attack that leaves her reevaluating her life.

Rather than continue to feel overwhelmed with her weight, her divorce, and her panic attacks, she pivots and creates the Sonny swimsuit line.

Too bad she can't resolve finding a date for her brother's wedding. That is until Ted, the silver fox, invests in her clothing line. But wait, is that Dennis, the very adorable mailman, flirting with her. Then her ex says he wants her back. Looks like Sunny has choices. Will she trust herself to make the right one?

Voice actress Yael Rizowy is delightfully engaging as Sunny. Whether she's angry at the world bullying people about their weight, slowly accepting her worth or loving her dogs, Sophie and Blanche, yes they're the Golden Girls, she's full of vigor and charm.

Listening and reading this novel just made me happy. Sunny's Dad is my favorite with his cute Dad jokes. I love that Sunny learns life isn't always sunny side up so she pivots until she feels the sun again.

I received free copies of this book/audiobook from Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Sunny Greene is an unforgettable character. Sturino has done an amazing job writing a novel that appeals to women of all sizes. Sunny Side Up is more than a romance novel. Sunny is a newly divorced woman who runs a successful fashion pr business. She has bonded with two other divorced women and they have planned a beach vacation together. Sunny is plus size and this leads her to panic when buying a new swimsuit for the trip. However, she designs her own suit which leads to a new company. Sunny doesn't get down on her self for long. There is a lot of romance in this novel, and the characters are all interesting. Sunny likes sex and men like Sunny! This is the prefect beach read which is almost as delightful as a great fitting swimsuit.