I found this very surface level, could not relate to the self-centered MC. Who just leaves their friend in a store without saying anything?

I REALLY wanted to love this one! Divorced women who support one another, body positivity, finding and loving yourself as a woman. However, the pieces just didn't fit together for me. I found that the characters did not live in reality. That often, what was supposed to be support and positivity came across as very fake. The beginning of the book was the complete opposite of body positive. I did enjoy the story of these women supporting one another, finding success for themselves and accepting one another for who they are. They cheered the others on throughout the book and supported them along the way. I did not find that this book was very body positive. It talked about a woman unhappy with her body and how she could accept it, it discussed fat shaming, but it all felt very surface level. I never felt like the author dug deep into body acceptance and body positivity. I liked the idea of this book and parts of the story, but it just did not work for me. If you are looking for something different for the summer, this may be a good option though.
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

A nice story about self-acceptance/empowerment and finding our inter strength even in the middle of turmoil. Sunny is a successful, smart, career minded person who is also striving for success in her personal life. I admire her strength and her resilience even when the people around her are so frustrating. I wasn’t always thrilled with her choices but nobody’s perfect. This was a quick read that kept my attention. Lots of talk about body acceptance/positivity.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

3 / 5 Stars
“Sunny Side Up” is an easy, beach read, Sex In The City fantasy that does a disservice to itself by not diving deeper into its body acceptance themes. Sunny Greene just divorced her toxic husband and is back to reclaiming her life. She has a successful fashion PR company and new fellow divorcee friends, but when she goes to Bergdorf Goodman to buy a swimsuit, she learns that not only has her body changed but they don’t carry her size in the store. This spurs her to start her own inclusive swimwear brand and restart her newsletter to focus on body acceptance. And along the way she falls into a love triangle.

This book had a ton of fun aspects. If you are a fashion lover, I think you will enjoy her descriptions of fashion and various looks. Sunny has a great kick ass assistant and fun friends. Her dogs are named after the Golden Girls. The Sex In The City and Gossip Girl brain candy vibes are great if you are looking for a quick read. And even though it is truly impossible to start a clothing brand in five months (I don’t have an MBA but I have watched enough Shark Tank to feel pretty confident in that statement), seeing her accomplish this big thing was empowering.

But Katie Sturino (in part) makes a living from being a body acceptance advocate and this book is marketed around a message of loving your body and to me, it felt like it offered a very beginner’s level, intro to body acceptance information. She would touch on fatphobia in dating and then move on to the next. She would touch on how women of all sizes criticize themselves and then back off. It made it seem like body acceptance was easy. And maybe, it is for some people. My personal experience has been that it is a constant, tedious effort to retrain my brain to stop engaging in deeply ingrained societal bullshit about size. Maybe the author thought that that tonally would not work with this book but even just a little bit more of what that deep work looks like would have felt more realistic. She shows one example of how she talks herself through the negative thoughts but that was it. Maybe showing other forms of self-work like journaling or therapy or deeper conversations with friends about size could have helped. Again, I know that is not everyone’s journey but it would have felt powerful since Katie does some of that on her social media. And because some of the book is written as her newsletter, it felt more tell than show which didn’t help with this specific issue.

It also felt like such a miss not to discuss the privilege of wealth. Yes, it can be hard or humiliating or anxiety inducing or a plethora of different emotions to live in a larger body if you haven’t done the work of self acceptance (currently trying to do that work). But it is easier when you have money. No, she may not be able to find swimwear in her size on the floor at Bergdorf Goodman and that is unfair, but she had money to go to a different store online, buy swimsuits, and take them to a tailor (and the tailoring is what launches her swimwear line which PS, I know I would not be able to afford her brand’s clothes). Again, I understand that we are living our Carrie Bradshaw fantasy here, but even one line to acknowledge that the privilege would have made the book feel more self aware and layered.

Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: June 24, 2025

Beginning was a little confusing and slow for me but overall an entertaining summer read. I really like the author's company and social media messages and that was carried over into this book.

I really enjoyed this book. There was real depth to the main character. She was fun and self confident. The book dealt with divorce, dating again, and body issues. There was smart cultural commentary in addition to a readable novel.

Sunny Side Up is a summer must read debut novel from MEGABABE founder Katie Sturino. Filled with humor and the reality of being a plus size fashion designer in NYC, Katie tells of the struggles with dating after divorce and loving yourself for who you are. Filled with hope, body positivity, and real life struggles. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Katie Sturino and Celadon Books for providing an ARC in exchange for honest thoughts.

I gave this book 4 stars

I adore this book!! Sunny Green is a recently divorced entrepreneur who’s on a mission to help women feel comfortable in their own bodies. This is never more true than when she’s in Bergdorf Goodman trying to find a suitable bathing suit for a trip (a divor-cation) that she’s taking with her best friends. She asks her tailor to help her customize a boring black one and realizes she has a knack for this kind of design. Her brother is getting married and Sunny is determined to go with a date. She’s on a self-imposed timeline to find a date and launch a brand new swimwear line while running her successful PR firm. This book is so hopeful and funny. An absolutely perfect summer read!

Many thanks to Celadon Books for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my feedback.

This was my first Katie Sturino book and I was really pleasantly surprised! Sunny Side Up is such a fun summer/beach read. It’s light and feel-good but still manages to touch on some heavier topics like fatphobia and emotional abuse in a really thoughtful way. I loved the mix of humor, heart, and real moments. Thanks so much for the early read!

If you’re already a fan of Katie Sturino, you will love her debut romance novel. Sunny is recently divorced with a tribe of high powered divorced ladies. She’s a PR guru running her own highly successful boutique firm but still feeling like life at 35 just isn’t what she thought. Feeling lost post divorce she sets her goal to find a date for her brother’s wedding in Chicago. Along Sunny’s dating journey she learns about self love and confidence finding a man and creating an amazing size inclusive swim line. (Sound familiar??? Again, if you love Katie and her writing style this is for you!).

I’ll say it’s not the most polished writing but an enjoyable and sweet story. Perfect beach read (in your new Katie Sturino swim collab ofc)!

Thank you Celadon Books and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sunny is recently divorced from her 3 month marriage (7 year relationship), and she's struggling extra with her body image. Her ex made lots of horrible comments, and then her trip swimsuit shopping is the last straw.
Through Sunny's successful business, her two best friends, a great assistant, and two interested men, she begins getting her confidence back. She also has a great idea for a new startup.
I enjoyed watching Sunny's progress and her excitement build, and it was nice watching her date both guys for a bit. I did wish she'd realized the pitfalls sooner, so that felt a little obvious. Overall it was a fun story and a good summer read.

This was a light sweet rom com, set in New York, and circling around themes of body image, designer fashion and mid 30s “coming of age” vibes. For me, the writing style and themes were not my favorite, but still found it a sweet story. Maybe a good, lighter read for summer.

✨ The Vibes ✨
An NYC rom-com that balances romance with self acceptance

📖 Read if…
✨ You’re looking for a light and sweet romance to throw in your beach bag
✨ You were Team Aidan over Team Big
✨ You’re OK with a book that touches on the emotional impact of body image and divorce

Calling all fans of an NYC rom-com – a new bombshell has entered the villa!

Sunny Side Up follows Sunny, a recently divorced publicist who decides to reinvent her life after several setbacks. Part of her plan? Start a sixe-inclusive swimwear empire. Oh, and fall in love along the way.

If I had to describe this story in one word, it would be real. Katie Sturino has written a book that touches on feelings many people experience – from romantic troubles to struggles with body image – in a way that captures both the frustration and humor of each situation. I think the humor is what impressed me most, as it can be hard to create comedy from tough situations, but Sturino always makes sure it stays relatable, and never veers into mean-spirited territory.

One thing that really stuck with me after finishing the book, was how similar it was to Sex and the City. Sunny was VERY Carrie-coded, writing a newsletter about her dating life, fashion, and body acceptance, and her circle of friends had big Charlotte and Miranda vibes (I guess Samantha is absent in this version too). This extended to the romantic interests as well, Dennis (my favorite) felt very Aidan inspired, while Ted was essentially Mr. Big 2.0. I don’t think this was necessarily a negative, as the actual story was very much its own thing, but the inspiration for the framework was very obvious.

In short this is a quick and enjoyable book that’s perfect for anyone who wants summer reading that is light and funny with just a touch of emotion. Sunny Side Up hits shelves next week. Thanks to Celadon and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino is a journey of rediscovery for 35-year old, newly divorced Sunny Greene. Sunny, who owns a successful PR agency in New York City, is coming to terms with her recent divorce and subsequent 40 pound weight gain. The reader is able to explore NYC hot spots, as she embarks on back-to-the-dating-scene escapades and achieves corporate triumphs. I enjoyed these glimpses into a glamorous New York City life, especially all of the fun restaurants and fashion. And I appreciated how Sunny uses her entrepreneurial talents to tackle the challenging topic of female body positivity which is a central theme. However I found it to be a very light read, lacking significant depth. I didn’t really connect to Sunny or find her love triangle and then instant love particularly believable. I’m not a fan of relationships that start with lying. I did adore her dogs, assistant Avery and her supportive dad. Readers who are looking for a lighthearted, entertaining story should check this one out. 3/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book was a nice summer read. I had a few issues with it, but overall think it would be a good beach read for the summer.

The things I liked were the characters - I think the author did a nice job making even side characters feel fairly fleshed out and important - and the friendship. The ride or die nature of the main character’s BFFs was really fun to read about.

The writing style was tough for me, because it was “tell” more than “show” for a lot of the plot. I also think this is a book meant for someone very early on in their body neutrality / fat acceptance journey. The language around bodies seemed geared toward how the main character’s body looked to men, rather than how she felt about it. And it was corny sometimes.

Overall, I likely would have DNFed this earlier on if it wasn’t an ARC, but as it is, I’m not mad that I finished it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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!