I’m such a huge fan of Katie Sturino and all of the work she does with Megababe and with body neutrality and making people feel confident in their bodies, so I was so excited when I heard she had a new romance book! It was so cute! I read it in one sitting! I really loved the MC (love to have a plus size lead in a romance!) and loved the parallels with Sturino’s own life and entrepreneurship journey.

Thank you to Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for the free ARC and ALC, respectively. All opinions are my own.

To start with, I'm a big fan of Katie Sturino and everything she stands for. As someone who identifies as being in a larger body, her message resonates with me and I've found her online presence and advice extremely helpful!

This book is Katie's fiction debut. Our main character is Sunny Greene, a professionally successful mid-30s city girl who is also recently divorced. The book covers her journey to find love again and her professional venture of creating a size-inclusive swim line that women actually want to wear and can try on in stores, in all sizes. Elements/tropes include:

- Multiple love interests
- FMC who is childless by choice
- Female friendship
- Supportive and present nuclear family
- New York City setting

Overall I liked this book. It felt very true to what I know of Katie. There were a few things that detracted from the experience for me.

First, the book came right out of the gate with a dressing room scene, starting off the weight and body content with a bang. Especially having read the whole book I understand why they chose this structure, but I really wish that we had learned more about Sunny as a person first, before we joined her in a frustrating dressing room experience. After all, part of the message of body acceptance in the book is that we are so much more than our bodies, but it felt like this opening scene told a different story. I also think the book could use a trigger warning for the diet culture/body issues setup portion.

Other things that didn't quite work for me:
- The chapters seemed a bit long at times.
- The conflict pacing was off for me, in that I felt like the crux of the third act conflict started too late in the book.

Notwithstanding these issues, I'm still glad I read the book and I appreciate that Katie is finding new ways to spread her message! If you go in ready for the body and weight content, I think it's worth the read.

Sunny has gotten divorced and put on a few pounds. She has always felt like she didn't fit in fashion. Even though she has a successful PR firm she still feels inadequate. How many women do you know that don't think they are not enough just the way they are? Probably more than you think. This is the story of Sunny dating, running a business, going out with friends and trying to accept herself just the way she is. This is a journey and so interesting along the way.

This is a book for all women. We need to stop judging ourselves and other women. We are terrific just the way we are. This is book with a message and I for one enjoyed it very much. A wonderful debut novel. This makes a great summer read and I recommend it.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #KatieSturino and #CeladonBooks for a copy of this book.
#SunnySideUp

I loved Sunny and her group of friends. They had Sex and the City friend group vibes. I loved the mailman - seriously adorable. Be warned, this book is entirely about body image issues, despite the strong, driven female main character working full time at her own company while getting a startup off the ground. In an early scene, Sunny is trying on swimsuits and it is specifically stated that she's been a US size 12 for most of her adult life, and that her 40 pound weight gain is recent, to do with her divorce. Women have body image issues at all sizes, and weight gains are difficult. I'm in no way minimizing that. However, it's implied but not specifically stated that she's now a US size 16, maybe an 18, and again, it's recent. Within the last 7 months. Later in the book, she talks about hating to fly because of seatbelt extenders or needing an extra seat. Um....excuse you?? There's no way someone who has been a US size 12 for most of their adult life has any experience with that on any airline. Doubtful at a US size 16, or even 18, especially since she also mentions multiple times that she is tall. I'm all about body acceptance and female empowerment and needing to work through the constant barrage of tiny women that are presented as normal. But...while the competent, stylish, professional, ambitious main character may have trouble finding cute swimwear in a department store in her size, she is nowhere near the point of needing accommodation on airplanes! Anyway, you've been warned.

This is a great summer/beach read! It’s light and positive but also tastefully deals with harder topics like fatphobia, emotional abuse, etc.

It’s predictable but that was fine to me for the story. Love the female friendship, female entrepreneurship, and body positivity!

This book was so relatable and even though I didn’t fit into all the representations and there’s something there to be taken by everyone! A recently divorced, single woman in her mid-thirties who put on a bunch of weight and who has to constantly fight to not be steamrolled by the men in her professional and personal life. I know I’ve had my own melt down in the dressing room and how that can affect your psych. Sturino authored a story with relevant storylines but also expressed them with humor so that the book never felt heavy. So, while it’s not necessarily a realistic version of life for the majority of us, it’s still poignant and entertaining!
Sunny Greene is living the life in NYC that many of us only see on Sex in the City. But all’s not easy behind closed doors. And Sunny, herself is not perfect by any means. She makes mistakes, and ones that had me shaking my heading, thinking “you’re rationalizing and it’s gonna backfire”. And sometimes you hurt someone, even inadvertently, and you just don’t’ always comeback from that. Intertwined in all that are great NYC settings, dating app misfires, ride or die girlfriends.

I enjoyed this debut SOOO much!! An ode to Sex in the city, this story features a divorced fat businesswoman who can't find a bathing suit to fit her well and decides to make a line of swimwear for bigger women. She also revives her newsletter in which she shares her thoughts on body neutrality, negative self thoughts and her hilarious forays into online dating in the city. Laugh out loud funny with important messages about loving yourself and being a good person to the ones who love you back. Excellent on audio and such a fun read!! Perfect for Bridget Jones's Diary and Sex in the City fans. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this novel! Sunny’s story is relevant to all women - at any size, there are doubts that creep in about our bodies and it is incomprehensible how much time we spend thinking about our bodies daily. The body positivity themes plus the love triangle made this a unique book in the chick lit space. I enjoyed all the NYC references and locations too, it’s clear Katie is a New Yorker in heart and spirit!

SUNNY SIDE UP is the story of 35-year-old, plus-sized, newly-divorced Sunny Greene. We meet her in the Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in tears and stuck in an ill-fitting, ugly bathing suit. Been there, done that (except trade Bergdorf Goodman for Old Navy). She buys a boring suit, takes it to her tailor, and has it remade and embellished for her. Sunny, the hugely successful owner of a hugely successful PR firm, then decides to launch a plus-size swimwear line that she's taking from sketch to store in under 6 months. Along the way, she's trying to find a date to her brother's wedding and ends up having to choose between the sweet, handsome postman with questionable taste in clothing and the rich, handsome venture capitalist and his cashmere suits and amazing cologne.

Everything comes so easily to Sunny that she becomes a totally unrelatable protagonist and I found myself more irritated by her than rooting for her.
• "Plus-sized" Sunny is a size 12. I just looked it up, and the average size of women in the US is 16. Have high end department stores stopped selling 12-14-16s? Girl. Go to the Gap.
• She's got enough money to tailor all of her clothing. Her designer clothing.
• She jumps back into the dating scene and immediately has the two serious contenders, plus the hot construction worker (we won't count her dating app hookup, who would unfortunately be more the norm).
• When she inevitably screws up with Mr. Right, she doesn't have to grovel nearly enough for him to forgive her.

Katie Sturino is a body acceptance advocate, and there are plenty of young girls (and probably older ones) that need to hear that they are great just they way they are. Parts of this book will resonate with that audience, and I'm sure it's going to be the perfect beach read for many. It just wasn't for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for an eARC. Opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the eARC.


I had to push through this characters self hatred over being a size that is smaller than me. No thanks.

Sunny Side Up is a must read for anyone who has felt badly about how they look compared to the societal norm (which is almost everyone for one reason or another). Sunny is a woman that has never fit in a perfect size 6 and there is a lot of shame and negative self image that comes with that. So, she starts a Substack and create a bathing suit line that will allow all women to feel good in the skin they are in. There is lots of drama around her brother's upcoming birthday and who she will bring as her plus one following her recent divorce. I really liked Sunny and her message about body image and her approach to life.

Thank you Net Galley, Katie Sturino and Caladon Books for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.
Sunny Side Up is expected to be released June 24, 2025.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

This was such an unexpected delight!! Katie Sturino is a gifted storyteller and Sunny’s story was such an inspiration.

(2.5 stars, rounded up)
Sunny Side Up started out great, with a scene of Sunny struggling in a dressing room, trying on a swimsuit. A LOT of women will relate to that struggle, no matter what size you might be. I know I related to it! (Although I definitely don’t shop at Bergdorf Goodman these days! Well, never have, to be honest. And with Sunny being in the size 12-14 range, I’d guess she wouldn’t have a lot to choose from there.) (Also, why would someone that size need a seat belt extender on a plane? I’ve been there myself and never needed one.) Anyway … I finally gave up at about 45%. There was just too much description of room furnishings and what everyone was wearing, and it finally got to me. Add in that the main character kept throwing herself at men and then talking about the details of their encounters - that made me feel icky, especially with the construction guy.

Sunny is being described as a “Carrie Bradshaw for the next generation.” I may be one of the few people in the US who never watched Sex and The City, so that comparison did nothing for me. But I enjoy Katie Sturino’s attitude toward her body (and my body and your body), so I wanted to give this book a whirl. It just wasn’t for me. I did skim to the end to see who Sunny wound up taking to her brother’s wedding as her plus-one, but that was just to satisfy my curiosity.

I bounced between the ebook and the audiobook and Yael Rizowy did a fine job with the narration, so it was not her fault that I decided this book wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This is a radiant, feel-good debut novel that delivers heart, laughs, and genuine empowerment. Centering on Sunny Greene-
a 35-year-old, newly divorced PR powerhouse in Chelsea- Sturino crafts a modern heroine full of wit, warmth, and relatable vulnerability.

The bond with her close friends feels authentic and lovable, giving emotional depth beyond just romance. This is the perfect blend of clever,
charming, and uplifting- a book that affirms that life's pecks often following its lowest moments. Whether you're rooting for Sunny to launch her
brand, choose between love interest, or simply find peace in her own skin, this novel is a delightful, empowering companion.

Good Chick= Lit, an Emotional Punch, and a Ride-or Die Vibe! 3 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy! This book will be released 6/24/25.

2.5 and just not for me.

Sunny rebuilds her life after a divorce one piece at a time. She has new friends she feels she's known forever. Her newsletter is back and better than ever. And she's launching a size inclusive swimwear line. Now if she could only figure out her love life.

Read if you like:
-Curvy Girl gets the Guy
-Stories from the Modern Dating Scene

I struggled with this one. Sunny Side Up was not the 'heartwarming and hilarious' novel I'd thought I'd be reading. It wasn't really a romcom, but it tried to be. And it wasn't even heartwarming. It read like 'girl who has it all gets more,' than an emotional journey. The only adversity Sunny faced was her size, and even that wasn't a real struggle because she owned it. The romance was boring, and I can't believe her ex made it back into the mix.

I love Katie Sturino and have been a huge fan for a long time. Love her brand Megababe as my personal rie or die for the summer. I tried to start this book several times and couldn't get into it. It was billed for fans of Emily Henry but the pacing felt off and it dragged for me. I am sure I am in the minority and I will be on the look out for future books by Sturino.


Thank you Netgalley & Celadon Books for the advanced reader copy.

Sunny Side Up is a delightful debut novel by Kate Sturino. Sunny Greene, a 35 year old recent divorcee hits a low point during an unfortunate swimsuit situation at Bergdorfs. Although Sunny owns a successful PR firm and has made excellent friends post-divorce, she realizes just how unhappy she has become. This jumpstarts a new chapter for Sunny of self-acceptance and confidence- navigating the dating world and launching a new plus-size line of swimsuits that women would feel good wearing. Throughout this journey, Sunny rediscovers herself and what truly matters to her in life. I loved the themes of strong friendships, romance and careers. Throw in some delightful dogs and the city of New York and this novel is super enjoyable. Definitely recommend!
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!

I appreciated what the author was trying to do, but it read more like a self-help/self-actualization book than a contemporary romance. This ended up being a very "tell", not "show" story, which made it hard for me to empathize with the FMC. Also, the romance felt very ... forced? There was no real tension (imo), so I ultimately didn't really care about MCs. Solid effort, but not for me.

The hardest reviews to write are the ones where I end the book feeling meh. I feel meh after reading SUNNY SIDE UP.

Things I loved:
☀️ The focus on body positivity. The theme runs through the entire book. I’ve been beanpole skinny, more than a bit overweight, and somewhere in the middle. I don’t remember a time where I enjoyed buying or wearing a swimsuit, so I absolutely relate to Sunny. I cheered for her during her self acceptance journey.
☀️ The strong female friendships depicted throughout the book. Yay for women who show up and stay; who straighten each other’s crowns; who understand that success for one does not mean failure for the rest. I definitely got Sex and the City vibes and I loved it.
☀️ Sunny’s determination to create a fashion line that lets women feel beautiful whatever their size. Her commitment to her mission remained steadfast.
☀️ The Golden Girls. I’m a sucker for fur babies.
☀️ The NYC setting. It’s clear the author understands the pulse of the city and the way neighborhoods can take on a small town feel even while being part of a major metropolis.

Things that didn’t work for me:
🌧️ Sunny. I really wanted to love her. She could have been representative of every woman, but came off as a bit shallow and one dimensional.
🌧️ Conflict resolution seemed too simple. The person Sunny treated the worst seemed to forgive her too easily. I hated seeing Sunny treated poorly by people in her life and I didn’t like seeing her do the same to others. She never saw the parallels of her behavior.

There are plenty of lighthearted moments to offset the constant focus on negative body image. I both read and listened to this book. The narration by Yael Rizowy (a new-to-me narrator) was fun. I especially enjoyed her authentic portrayal of Dennis as a native New Yorker. (Spoken as a NYer who sounded like a midwesterner from birth)

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Celadon Books for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and @CeladonBooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sunny Side Up is a feel good, body positive rom-com that brings a refreshing new voice to the genre. Sunny Greene is funny, flawed, and instantly likable a 35 year old newly divorced PR powerhouse who’s trying to figure out what’s next. Between navigating the dating scene, dodging her ex, and launching a size inclusive swimwear line, she’s got a lot on her plate and it makes for a super entertaining ride.

Sunny’s inner monologue is sharp and relatable, and her journey toward self-acceptance feels authentic without being preachy. The love triangle brings the drama (Dennis is a sweetheart, Ted has big rom-com energy), but what really stands out is how much the story focuses on Sunny growing into her confidence and claiming space—in relationships, in business, and in her own body.

It’s a little chaotic at times (in a good way), and the tone feels very Sex and the City meets modern self-love anthem. There’s lots of humor, a few genuinely touching moments, and a cast of side characters that round things out nicely.

If you’re in the mood for something empowering, funny, and full of main-character energy, Sunny Side Up is the book you need right now!

3.95 Stars rounded to 4!

#NetGalley, #CeladonBooks, #SunnySideUp, #KatieSturino, #ChickLit