I will admit that the description of this book is what caught my eye. The author tackles a complex issues that most women of plus size women face. I did find the book enjoyable to some degree. It really did show the real thoughts and feelings that many women face everyday. Sunny's character was relatable but there was so much entitlement as well. As a reader I would look into more books by this author. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

Loved this. The power of Sunny was felt throughout. It felt real, it felt raw, it felt motivating. Keep on keeping on Sunny

Thank you Celadon books for the ARC of Sunny Side Up.

3.5 rounded down to 3.

I think we can focus a book around body positivity and body acceptance without mentioning it in every other paragraph. I deeply appreciated the message that Katie was throwing down. I think it's something that author's only surface level cover most of the time. I think she tried to dig deeper into it. But Sunny was very annoying. So although message received, I wish it were with a different FMC! 🙃

Also, the two boyfriends things was really throwing me off. Like waaaaay off. I very much believe that Sunny knew from the beginning what kind of guy Dennis was and that he would not be okay with her seeing someone else. And the fact that she kept doing it (under the pretense that no one clarified relationship status) made me so uncomfortable. And then his reaction at the end was entirely too understanding for my liking. But I guess there are nice, forgiving guys out there?

Sunny Greene is newly divorced, looking for a swimsuit for a vacation. But when she can't find anything in her size, she takes it on herself to develop a new swimsuit line. She is already a leader in the PR world. Now her brother is getting married and she is looking for a date for the wedding. She starts up her blog that she had before her marriage, and it goes viral. But will it turn out to scare away the two prospects that she has for the wedding?

A great story, true to life, with great characters and a great plot! A fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Macmillan Audio as well as the author and the narrator for this digital and audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #CeladonBooks #MACAudio25 #KatieSturino #YaelRizowy #Book #Fiction #Review

Title: Sunny Side Up
Author: Katie Sturino
Narrator: Yael Rizowy
Formats: eBook, audiobook
Publisher: Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: June 24, 2025
Themes: Self Love, Self Acceptance, Friends as family
Trigger warnings: Body shaming, Body dysmorphia, Sexual content, Toxic relationships, Self-hatred, Alcohol use, Misogeny, Infidelity, Anxiety, Depression

I didn’t expect to love this book this much. It was beautiful and inspiring. Sunny Green is a smart woman who has always struggled with loving her own body. Recently divorced from a toxic marriage, she is struggling to love herself. After a truly demoralizing experience in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room, she vows that she will learn to love herself as well as inspire other women to do the same.

Who, out of all women, has never hated her body or anything else about herself? Who hasn’t had a meltdown in a dressing room? I know I have. Many times. Most of us have. This is only one of the reasons that I loved Sunny as a character. So many people just wallow in these feelings. Sunny vows to do something about it. She takes control of her love life as well as her professional life. She revives an internet newsletter that she started when she was in college and documents her dating experiences. She also designs her own bathing suit line that is size inclusive. This character and her story were inspiring and, unlike so many of the books and other media that use this trope, it actually did succeed in sounding sincere rather than trite and tired. This book was a very positive experience for me.

The audiobook stood out from the digital book because of its talented narrator, Yael Rizowy. She did an excellent job emoting each character. She was especially gifted with the various accents that popped up throughout the story.

All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone. The positivity throughout makes for a very beautiful reading experience.

What a fun, positive, fashion- and NYC-filled story! Thanks to Celadon and NetGalley for early access to this one, both in ebook and physical form, in exchange for my honest opinions.
Sunny is a boss in her life, but she has a meltdown shopping for a bathing suit. After buying a crappy swimsuit online and getting it expertly tailored to fit her better, she is persuaded by her girlfriends to think about making her own swimsuit line. Having a background in PR and fashion, Sunny uses all her connections to make this happen - while also running her PR agency. At the same time, she's “shopping” for a date for her brother's wedding, even though the last wedding she attended was her own, which recently ended in divorce after less than one year.
I really enjoyed diving into this book, much like the cover shows. I love reading books set in NYC, and this has such a nice realistic approach to both light (dating, friendship) and heavy (divorce, body acceptance vs positivity) topics, and I can't wait for others to read it.
One tiny detail I absolutely loved was a reference to the “suspiciously cheap frozen margaritas at Blockheads” - this was my family's go-to spot when meeting up for drinks with in NYC in the early 2000s. The cheapest (but still strong!) drinks - my mom especially loved them 🤣

I LOVED this one! Sturino did such a good job capturing the emotions and feelings of going through a divorce or separation. It had me laughing, crying, kicking my feet and also feeling so much love and care for Sunny. I loved the insight of someone starting a new business and what they want that to look like. Overall, such a fun, great read!

So Sunny! Seriously lovable characters, this was a great feel good read that kept it real. What does inclusive really mean? It may not be quite what you think… Katie Sturino tells Sunny’s story with heart and humor, but doesn’t let go of the important threads that make Sunny who she is and fight for what she wants.

Sunny has a lot going on. She’s divorced after being a man who only used her for what she can do for him. She’s trying to build her PR company. She’s ready to date. She has options. Does she go with the hot billionaire or the hot construction guy, or the hot mailman? She has a breakdown trying on bathing suits in Bergdorf Goodman. If one is to have a breakdown what better place than Bergdorf’s? This sets her on a path to creating a line of bathing suits plus sized women feet fabulous wearing. All this with the best support system, her girls. Slightly over the top at some times but overall a good read.

Sunny Greene is thirty-five, recently divorced, facing the looming prospect of going solo to her little brother’s wedding, and currently trying to find anything plus-sized in the Bergdorf Goodman swimsuit department that doesn’t make her want to cry. It’s not going well. But isn’t rock bottom the perfect place to start a climb? Sunny Side Up is a celebration of female friendships, and dating in your thirties. With a very "Sex in the City" vibe, the reader comes along as Sunny picks up the pieces personally and professionally post-divorce. Of course things are never straightforward in the dating world. Is fate knocking at her door with Dennis, the charming and down-to-earth mailman, or should she be with Ted, the business tycoon who seems ready to make her size-inclusive swimsuit brand a reality? Love triangles are not a genre I enjoy, but this story was much more about self-discovery, and humor.

I was excited to dive into Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino, and it delivered a fun, uplifting read full of early 2000s nostalgia with a modern twist. The story celebrates body positivity and friendship in a way that feels genuine and refreshing. Katie’s voice shines through with humour and heart, making the characters relatable and engaging. While some moments felt a bit predictable, the overall message of self-love and empowerment really resonated. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I was excited for this book pitched as a modern Sex and the City. Plus I"m a huge fan of Katie Sturino and her work/brands. This felt like early 2000s nostalgia with more body love.

A gentle and predictable summer read. I already liked Katie Sturino going into this, so I found it a little easier to connect to the main character than some reviewers have. Overall I enjoyed it!

truly loved this book. I personally feel for Sunny. I used to be is a bigger body and trying to hard to feel comfortable in my own body. Going shopping in stores was such a struggle. truly love her finding love of herself and looking for love again after being with a total dud.

Thank you so much for this ARC! Cute story and a perfect palette cleanser. I love a redemption story and a story of self love and this fit the bill.

This was such a fun, easy read that gave me major early-2000s “chick lit” nostalgia—like Sex and the City meets vintage Jennifer Weiner, but with a more modern, evolved vibe. I wasn’t sure at first how I’d feel about the heavy focus on body image early on, especially since I’ve worked hard to reach a more body-neutral mindset, but I appreciated that the story moves toward acceptance and empowerment without getting too preachy.

Once I got into it, I really enjoyed following Sunny’s post-divorce journey as she navigates dating in NYC, rediscovers her confidence, and takes a leap on a new dream. The friendships were warm and funny, and I honestly wish this was a series—I’d love books (or a TV show!) about her friends and assistant too. There were a few moments that felt a little unrealistic or overly tidy, but overall, this was a light, enjoyable read perfect for a beach day or a pick-me-up during a hectic week.

This was really cute! Strong female heroine who was easy to get behind and root for. Love interests you were actually interested in and you didn't know immediately how it was going to go! Great back story with her new business. I will be waiting for Sturino's next book!

This was a sweet summertime read with a protagonist, Sunny, who was just interesting enough to hold my vacation interest. Did some elements feel implausible? Yes, but I think her socioeconomic status and connections were supposed to explain a lot of that away (sure, that swimwear line can go to market in record time, and your investor/romantic interest has courtside seats to the Knicks game handy, etc.). I wanted a little more nuance to the body positivity conversation, but I will also acknowledge a few moments felt forced (i.e the extended convo between Sunny and her mom at the launch party). As a light read about a recently divorced dog mom of the “Golden Girls” looking to heal and date in good ole NYC, it offers enough of a storyline to hold interest. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

A wonderful story of healing, self-discovery and self-love. Sunny represents what we all feel at times and how she dealt with it was nothing short of raw, honest and amazing. She's 35, single and dating and writing all about her experiences. It's just a fun story. I didn't know about Katie Sturino before reading this, but I will definitely read more by her.

Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for this eArc!

I ended up listening to the audiobook and it really surprised me! This was a book that celebrated bodies. Sunny is a recently divorced woman who embarks on a journey of both a divorcation (divorce vacation) with her friends while deciding that she needs to do something about the fact that she can never find clothing her size in stores. She sets out to create a business that specifically celebrates plus sizes with comfortable and adorable bathing suits, all while finding love (and a date to an upcoming wedding).

As you can see there were lots of little plot lines which made this book super fun to read. I loved that this was REAL emotion about weight; however, she didn't harp on it. She did something about it. And learned to love her body how it was. Overall a really fun and inspiring read!