This book completely took me by surprise!

Our story starts with out main character dealing with divorce and is crashing out in the dressing room trying on swimsuits. I've been there babe. It sucks. So right away, I connected immediately because the internal dialogue she has over her body was relatable. In fact, I almost wanted to dnf just because it was a bit triggering. I will say that the main character is wealthy and successful so that is probably not super relatable but the negative self talk? That was me 100%

Sunny has a moment and decides to love herself and with that moment, we follow her as she puts herself first, finds her confidence and even starts dating.

I loved her newsletter, her friends, and her dating adventures. I loved the body positivity " My body was never the problem"

My favorite parts of this book were the moments with her best friends , her support system affectionately called The First Wives Club as well as a scene at the end of the book with her mother. That conversation she has with her mother at the end was wonderful to me.

I really enjoyed it and would recommend this as a fun summer read!

Thank you so much to the author, Celadon books and Netgalley for this ARC

SUNNY SIDE UP is a post-divorce tale about a very successful woman in search of a date for her brother’s wedding. Or perhaps the plot is about Sunny’s exploration of the online dating scene. Or even, the plot might be about another successful venture of Sunny’s: plus-size swim wear sold in traditional department stores. The challenge in this book is finding an overall direction for the tale; the various subplots are fine but there is a cohesiveness missing. The book moves through themes and plots with regularity, each time offering another tidbit for the reader. An easy summer read, this book is like a TV episode to a frothy show: a lot of players and activity but no real forward momentum. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

⭐☆☆☆☆ (DNF at 60%)

I really wanted to love this book. As someone who’s lived in a larger body, I deeply related to the themes around body image and navigating a society that isn’t built to accommodate or affirm you. Those parts hit home.

But that’s where my connection to the story ended.

At the halfway mark, I kept waiting for something—anything—to pull me in emotionally. Instead, the plot meandered into what felt like a parody: the main character’s central crisis is… finding a date to her brother’s wedding? The stakes never felt real, and I couldn’t get invested.

I started this book three months ago. The fact that it took me that long to crawl to 60% says everything. I had to DNF.

From the very first page, Sunny felt like a breath of fresh air. A plus-size, Midwestern, divorced woman living in New York and carving out her place in the fashion world, she’s self-loathing at times, self-deprecating, but always self-aware—and determined to grow. The author wrote her with such depth: flawed, funny, motivated, and deeply human.

I appreciated how honestly the book explored body positivity and self-confidence. Sunny confronts the emotional baggage from her ex-husband’s harsh words, questions why she keeps attracting the wrong men, and even takes aim at the swimwear industry’s lack of inclusive designs for bodies like hers.

We also get to see her surrounded by her core group of friends and navigating her dating life with a string of unique (and sometimes hilariously mismatched) suitors. The writing is sharp, cohesive, funny, and heartfelt—so much so that I found myself rooting for Sunny every step of the way.

She’s incredibly relatable, and I’d love to see more of her. A series would be perfect! And please, bring back the Golden Girls—Sunny’s two hilarious dogs—because they added so much charm to the story.

I’m actually a little surprised by how much I loved this one! Sunny Side Up is a light-hearted novel about FMC, Sunny who is a professional businesswoman in New York City. Recently divorced, she has to ask herself what is next- in terms of her love-life and professional endeavors. It has self-discovery, friendship, and romance. You feel like Sunny is your best girlfriend as you’re reading this. This book has the perfect 90s romcom vibe to it. I ate it up!

Sunny is a super endearing character and you’ll find yourself rooting for her throughout the story. Since she’s on a self-love journey, there is a lot of weight talk and negative self worth, but this is never stated as fact, only that this is how the main character feels about herself (and she’s desperately working to change that). The addition of her newsletters really adds to the quirkiness of the story. I loved to see her recognizable growth as the story progressed. I think fans of Dolly Alderton will enjoy this one!

There are a lot of real and pop culture references in here (be warned if that bothers you!). They are highly relevant to the story though, so it didn’t bother me or seem out of place. I.E. mentioning her products being on The Today Show, etc.

Super cute and quick read!

Thank you to Netgalley, Katie Sturino, and Celadon books for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Content warnings: body dysmorphia, fatphobia, toxic relationship, sexual content, infidelity, panic attacks

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon for my advanced readers copy. Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me a d I DNF around the 20% mark. I couldn’t connect with the characters and couldn’t get interested to it.

Thank you, Celadon Books and Netgalley, for a copy of Sunny Side Up in exchange for an honest review.

“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 Greene is so different than other heroines from similar books; she is effervescent, confident, and healthy! This is not another Bridget Jones trying to starve herself. Sturino wrote a character who values herself and promotes body acceptance over body positivity, much like Sturino shares with her internet followers in real life. It was so refreshing to read a FMC like Sunny Greene, someone who knows her value, is proud of her success, and altogether inspiring, but without all the “girlboss, you can do it, mama” platitudes that were everywhere in the 2010s. I LOVED this character so much!

Reading this novel was like a fun day at the beach with my own girlfriends. Its so bright and funny. I loved the positive view of female friendship, body image, and confidence.

SUNNY SIDE UP is a contemporary novel about a plus sized woman named Sunny Greene. Thirty-five year old, Sunny runs a successful PR firm in New York. Recently divorced, Sunny is trying to get her life back on track with the help of work, friends, dating apps, her dogs and her resurrected newsletter Sunny Side Up.
An unsuccessful shopping trip to Bergdorf sends Sunny to see her genius tailor Kateryna to help her alter and design a bathing suit that will actually fit her and look good at the same.
During her weekend getaway, Sunny’s friends Brooke and Noor are impressed with the bathing suit that Kateryna and Sunny designed. Realizing there is a market for plus size swimwear, Sunny sets out to fulfil that need.
SUNNY SIDE UP themes include body image, self acceptance, friendship and romance.
I enjoyed reading SUNNY SIDE UP. I think the topic of body image was dealt with in a positive way.
Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for providing access to an advanced digital copy of SUNNY SIDE UP.

Thank you to MacMillan and Celadon for review copies of this delightful summer rom-com! Sunny Side Up is packed with charm—a strong, vibrant female main character, a cast of lovable secondary characters, heartfelt odes to female friendship and success, and important themes around body acceptance.

This is the kind of book you toss in your beach bag, enjoy with a poolside drink, and dive into for a fast, fun, and engaging read. Sunny’s voice and spirit are instantly captivating. I especially loved that her journey wasn’t just about romance—it was also about figuring out what it means to be fully herself. She’s determined to succeed at work, stay true to her voice and leadership style, embrace her desires, and connect deeply with people who value her humor and her advocacy for body acceptance.

Kate Sturino’s Sunny Side Up is the perfect summer read—one to share with friends. And the audiobook? The voice acting is a total win!

Sunny Side Up is the first book I've read by Katie Sturino, but I will definitely watch for more. Summer season is bathing suit season and Sunny Greene struggles to find one that flatters her body or fits her properly. With her younger brother's wedding coming up, she really wants to bring a plus one, but after her divorce, she has been hesitant about dating again. She seems pretty well put together, with her PR business, two BFFs and a lovely apartment in Chelsea, but has issues around self-confidence because of her plus-sized body. Deciding it is time to accept herself and be herself, Sunny enters the dating world. She has two men to decide between. The first is Ted, the handsome, business tycoon who she is working with to bring her size-inclusive swimsuit brand a reality? Her other choice is Dennis, the charming and down-to-earth mailman with the Queen's accent, who she has fun with, makes her laugh and feel good about herself. And then, her ex shows up. What is she to do?

I really enjoyed this book about body image, acceptance, self-confidence and following your dreams. Sunny is a character that I could identify with. She shares some of the issues she has being a plus-sized woman and boy have I been there. It is not done in a derogatory manner, but one that is realistic and honest. The swimsuit dilemma is definitely one I have dealt with and finding a company that I now deal with exclusively was so important to a water lover. Sunny has a blog/newsletter that she uses to detail her dating journey giving the men nicknames. The problem is that when they find out what she is doing, they are not pleased. She has some serious decisions to make about what she wants out of life, and who she wants in that life. I enjoyed Sunny's journey. I laughed at times and empathized with her at others. Her personal growth in the story was great, and I loved that she was strong enough to follow her dreams. I can't end this review without mentioning the dogs. Sunny has two and Dennis has one. They go on walks together and it was great to see how the dogs bring them together in a slow and realistic way. A great story to read while getting ready for that summer season with pools, weddings, picnics and summer fun.

If you’re into slow-burn healing, love triangles, and the main character finding their power post-breakup, this one’s for you. Sunny is strong, relatable, and so easy to root for. Bonus points for body positivity and a friends-to-lovers vibe that totally delivered. Such a cozy, empowering read with heart and heat. Shout out to Netgalley, Katie & her team over at Celadon Books for the eARC!

What to Expect:
⭐ Body Positivity
⭐ Self-Acceptance
⭐ Dating after divorce
⭐ Love/Dating Triangle
⭐ Second Chances in Life & Love
⭐ Reinvention + Personal Growth
⭐ NYC Fashion Topics!

My Thoughts:
This is not your typical rom-com. I really tried to fall in love with the romance of this story (more below), I am all about reading about 30-40 year old women, who are incredibly successful and not described as model sized. I loved the big focus on the body positivity and the overarching story of making swim suits that fit real people, because THIS is a market that I really value and made it hard not to root for Sunny.

What I could NOT handle is there was a bit of a sense of entitlement and the love triangle. Both love interests could have been great as characters, but felt as though they fell flat. None of the men in this triangle are swoon worthy. There isn't anticipation, there isn't a sense of excitement as she connects with each of them. Sunny at 35 is massively struggling with her own self worth. Which I UNDERSTAND she is post divorce and it wasn't the best marriage anyways leaving her battered on an emotional/self confidence level. All that to say it just wasn't a bit of spark for me and this part of the story missed the mark.

Additionally, I enjoyed this in audiobook version and text. The Audiobook is a whole different version and I actually REALLY liked it more. I LOVED the narrator (Yael Rizowy) she brought a lot of the comedic moments to life, really described all the scenes to the point where you truly felt like you were there with the people! If I had to choose, I would say GO AUDIOBOOK!

All that to say...if you’re here for a story about a woman learning to trust herself again, step into her own power after being made to feel small, this story is for you! It’s warm, affirming, and often funny, with a a main character woman who feels relatable and real in the best way.

Also to those living in this dating world surviving these kinds of dates... I send you so much love. You deserve more than stories like this.

Synopsis:
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?

She decides it’s now or never. Sunny has her PR empire, her gorgeous Chelsea apartment, her two dogs, and her loyal best friends. Maybe it's time to just love her body and accept herself for who she is. With a new commitment to confidence, her journey begins. Who says a plus-sized divorcee can’t put herself first, feel beautiful, and date up a storm?

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? And what should she do about her ex, who shows up unexpectedly, eager to reconnect?

With the same candor and confidence her followers love, Sturino brings us Sunny Greene, a Carrie Bradshaw for the next generation, and her journey through the trials and triumphs of dating, friendship, and finding yourself.

Thank you so much to Celadon for the free copy of the book & the ARC!

This book will be out on June 24th.

Man oh man did I love this one!!! I have been following Katie Sturino for a few years now. I love her taking thin celeb outfits and recreates them in her midsize body. And if you haven't tried her Megababe products - you should!!! I am not as familiar with her outside of this but from the little that I do know, her voice definitely came across in this book.

I love when we have successful FMC! Often times the FMC is trying to figure out who they are and are in the same old job for years on end. Sunny owns her own PR company is very successful. What not has been as much of a success is her love life. She had been with her husband for a year before they decided to call it quits (together for 6 years) and the book kicks off with Sunny put the pieces back together. I love seeing Sunny figure out what kind of man does she want? Is it the neighborhood postman? Is it the high power investor? Or maybe a random construction worker? She still has her next niggling in the back of her brain but for the most part she is just looking ahead to the future.

I thought the inclusion of the newsletter was a fun extra. Normally mixed media is a miss for me but in this case, I felt it worked really well. It was like her diary and we all were at a front row seat to what was happening in her life.

I read this book all with my ears and I wish I had took the time to mark certain passages because whew were they relatable as someone with a bigger body. Sturino really nailed what it's like going into stores and not being able to find anything in your size. And I'll just note that more stores/brands are starting to carry bigger sizes but either they don't last, the prices are outrageous or its just not advertised. Sunny saw a problem in stores and had the resources to be able to create her own swimwear line (fun fact Sturino *just* started her own swimwear line). Her and Avery were such a dream combo. It was fun to read! I did love how this is the area where Sturino focused the issues being in a bigger body as opposed to having that be an issue in Sunny's dating life.

This really was just such a delight and I hope Sturino writes more books!

4.5

I loved this story! Sunny is a positive, strong woman who is very likeable yet also relatable. It was refreshing to read about a female character in her 30s for a change!

I really enjoyed Sunny’s body positive outlook and related to her struggles. I think all people can relate to Sunny. We’ve all judged our bodies at one point or another and have had to come to terms with our bodies in one way or another. Some of us are still working on that self acceptance.

This was a quick read and I highly enjoyed it!

Newly divorced Sunny Greene needs a swimsuit for a "divorcation" with her two best friends. She finds herself in a fitting room at Bergdorf's attempting to squeeze into a suit that isn't even cute and definitely would have fit a few months ago. When there are no other options in the store, the stylist suggests she try online for larger sizes. Cue a panic attack.

Adding to that humiliation is the pressure from her mother to lose weight and get back into the dating pool. Not to mention her younger brother's wedding in a few months, to which she will be dateless. Sunny is a professional, successful woman with tons of confidence in the board room, so she decides it's time to bring some of that confidence to her personal life too. She sets out on a quest to love her body, accept herself exactly as she is, and find a date for her brother's wedding.

There are a lot of very cute and fun aspects of this book. The supportive female friendships and building each other up while also sharing all the girls-night gossip had very Sex and the City vibes. The plus-size struggles and body acceptance themes are spot-on and will resonate with a lot of women. There are also some very funny scenes that bring lightness to this story.

There are also some misses in this book. Sunny's character at times feels shallow, somewhat lacking in introspection and emotional connection. The plot had only mild conflict with easy resolution. Some of Sunny's choices felt inconsistent.

In the audiobook, narrator Yael Rizowy uses a wide array of different voices to perform this book. Her performance of Dennis was my favorite, as she nailed the New York accent and really made his character endearing. Some of the characters had a vocal fry voice quality which is only ok in small doses. Overall I think I would have preferred to read this book with my eyes instead of my ears.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katie Sturino, and Celadon books for the e-ARC!

Katie Sturino’s Sunny Side Up is the kind of debut that lands with confidence and heart. It strikes a rare and welcome balance, offering messages of body acceptance without turning them into the book’s entire personality. Yes, our main character is plus-size, but her journey isn’t about shrinking herself to be worthy. It’s about expanding her life, her joy, her friendships, and her sense of self after the emotional fallout of a messy heartbreak.

This is a cozy, feel-good story for readers who love seeing women show up for each other. The friendships in this book are a particular bright spot: supportive, hilarious, and deeply authentic. There’s something soothing about watching a character slowly piece herself back together—not through a new relationship, but through rediscovering her own voice, her passions, and her ability to take up space in her own life.

It’s not perfect; the plot occasionally leans into predictability, but that’s also part of its charm. Sunny Side Up is like a warm brunch with your best friends: comforting, low-stakes, and exactly what you need to remind you that life can be beautiful again, even after everything falls apart.

Sunny Greene is thirty five and newly divorced. She is a successful business woman; however, still finds herself crying in the dressing room of department stores in NYC because she can’t find a swimsuit that fits her frame. She decides to design her own and this starts her creation of her own swimming suit brands.

Meanwhile, her brother is getting married and Sunny must find a plus one. She starts writing her long forgotten newsletter, akin to Sex in the City, detailing her body positive message and dating life vowing to find a date for the wedding. Thus begins her exploration of what it means to date in your late thirties post divorce and to reclaim your life.

Sunny is a great character with a great message. However, I found it difficult to understand her dating decisions. She’s a smart business woman and decides to start a fling with her investor. It just didn’t sit right with me. In addition to this, she talked about her large body and her jiggly thighs… ALOT. Too much.
Although Sunny was older, I found the conflict could have been solved with open and honest communication. In addition, she was forgive WAY too easily. 3 stars for the message, I wish the execution was better.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Say hello to the Carrie Bradshaw of body positivity. As a plus size reader, I am immediately skeptical of a plus size heroine. Too often, all of her woes are the result of a body that just doesn’t fit, but in the hands of Megababe founder Katie Sturino, we find a fully dimensional, delightfully messy main character in Sunny Greene. Post divorce, Sunny is on a quest to find herself, and with a little help from her friends, she may just end up building the life she’s always dreamed of. Full of fashion, flirtation, and a whole lot of fun, Sunny Side Up is a delicious summer read.

As a plus size woman, I found that Sunny Side Up had some very relatable moments. That dressing room scene was described so well. I could vividly picture that department store dressing room that I cried in because nothing cute fit. I love that Sunny is in her 30’s, is a plus sized main character and is successful. I love that after her divorce, she puts herself back out there to find love and herself. This book is full of body positivity. There’s also a little spice. Thank you Netgalley and Celadon Books for the eARC.

It’s like a combination of Lipstick Jungle meets Sex And The City. New York women dealing with real women issue… body image issues, marriage, divorce, kids, dating, sex, cheating and business. While I can’t relate to being a rich successful woman in NY… I did enjoy the break from my own problems to read about it and fantasize. Let’s be honest, “And Just Like That” is a complete disaster… someone send Darren Star this book to get him back on track… 😬
Thank you!!!

Cute read! Story was interesting and kept me reading.

I want to thank Netgalley & Celadon Publishing for the ARC.