I wanted to love this book. I loved the premise of the book. But I just didn’t like the main character. There is a way of empowering women without throwing yourself at several men. I just did not see any romance. It was a whirlwind of men and then gossiping about it. Just was not my type of book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for exchange for a honest review.

This was such a breath of fresh air!

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.

That is, until Sunny decides that she needs to start loving and accepting herself just as she is and open herself up to new friends and finding love again. I mean she is gorgeous and successful, so why not put herself out there?

The characters in the novel are real and likable and relatable. I love having a "plus-sized" (size 12... really?!?) heroine. I love her incredibly supportive friends. I love how different the men in her life were. I love the body positivity message. I love the mix of difficult moments and situations with lighthearted moments and conversations.

I found this debut extremely enjoyable. And the narration was rather well done.

A huge thank you to the author, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review an ALC.

I had so much fun reading this one! This book is a refreshing, confident, and wildly entertaining read that lands somewhere between Sex and the City and a self-love manifesto. I adored Sunny. She is thirty-five, recently divorced, curvy, successful, and still trying to make peace with the voice in her head—and the judgmental stares in dressing rooms. Sound familiar?

Sunny’s journey unfolds as she preps to attend her younger brother’s wedding solo (or not if she can meet the right guy in time). But besides being single (after an emotionally crushing divorce), Sunny is doing pretty well. She’s got a killer apartment, a thriving PR business, and a solid group of best friends. But she’s ready to reclaim her confidence, her sexuality, and her joy. All things she feels went by the wayside post-divorce.

Cue female empowerment and some classic rom-com chaos: there’s the charming mailman Dennis, the business-savvy Ted, and a surprise reappearance from the ex. But what's most inspiring about this book is that the central romance here isn’t just about men. It’s about Sunny falling back in love with herself.

What I loved most about this one was that it's not a “poor me” kind of book. It’s funny. It's empowering. It's sexy. And most importantly, it doesn’t rely on trauma as the sole engine of growth. Sunny gets frustrated, self-conscious, and occasionally falls into old patterns, but she picks herself up again. She decides she doesn’t need to be “fixed”—she just needs to finally believe that she’s enough, exactly as she is. It's real and it's relatable.

I also appreciated how the book celebrates body acceptance without turning it into a lesson. Sunny is a big girl, and she is fine with it. It's who she is. She’s not a stereotype or a statement. She’s real, flawed, and absolutely fabulous just the way she is.

I tandem read this one, and if you are an audiobook listener, do yourself a favor and check this one out. Yael Rizowy is a perfect Sunny. She nails the humor, the heart, and the sass.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Especially if you're looking for your next empowered female main character. This is the perfect "grab life by the balls and make it your own" summer read. Smart, feel-good, and full of heart. Add it to your TBR immediately.

Sunny owns her own successful business, but her recent divorce has her negative inner voice criticizing herself. When she goes shopping for a swimsuit for her upcoming vacation, she hits her breaking point. She is tired of not having options for plus sized women. She begins a journey of self discovery, accepting herself, and is also determined to bring swim options to other women.


So- yay- plus size empowerment. As someone with PCOS who has been plus sized since puberty, I get it. Clothing options have come along way since I was in high school, but it is still frustrating. Plus sized people really need to try things on, yet stores don't carry a whole lot in physical brick and mortar stores.

However, this was kind of disappointing. Sunny is a size 12. I'm not sure I'd even consider that plus size. 14 is average for American women! 14/16 is the smallest size some plus size retailers even offer. So, finding out that she is a size 12 was very disappointing.

It gets worse- as a size 12, she asked for a seat belt extender on an airplane. Um, no. No size 12 ever needs a seatbelt extender. Everyone is shaped differently, but there is no way a size 12 would ever need a seatbelt extender. While my weight and size has fluctuated over the years, I've never needed a seatbelt extender. Size 20 has probably been my most common size, but I've been bigger and smaller. Never have I needed a seatbelt extender. As a matter of fact, I feel like I'd need a second seat before needing an extender.

So the whole size 12 thing pretty much ruined this for me. I also didn't love any of her love interests.

The whole revelation that she is a size 12 made me more angry than anything. Kind of a slap in the face for those who are actually plus sized.

All of that, I didn't hate the book as a whole. I just didn't enjoy it as much as I could have and was more insulted than anything about Sunny's size. Definitely not inspired or empowered.

Yael Rizowy narrates the audiobook.

I received an advance audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Sunny Side Up…or how Sunny got her groove back? Meet Sunny Greene. She’s 35, divorced, packed on more pounds than she cares to admit, and hates the idea of going to her brother’s upcoming wedding solo. Oh, and she’s a really likable. While not your typical romantic lead, Sunny is a very relatable, sympathetic, and likable character. And I definitely enjoyed joining her on her journey as she learned to accept herself as she is and to go after what she wants. Yael Rizowy does an excellent job with the narration and this one a pleasure to listen to. I’d like to thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review an advanced copy of the audio version of Sunny Side Up.

I enjoyed this debut novel from Katie Sturino. It opens with our main character Sunny, bathing suit shopping and depressed to find nothing for her plus sized body. After taking matters into her hands and tailoring a bathing suit, she starts a swimsuit line for plus sized women. Along the way she confronts her own baggage with diet culture and body dysmorphia.

This definitely reads as women’s fiction and not romance, but there is a love triangle storyline. I didn’t love that Sunny wasn’t open with both love interests about her dating exploits - it felt like she was stringing them along. I did really enjoy the female friendships and professional relationships as pictured in this book which rang very true to my experience.

I mostly listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Yael Rizowy. Yael is a new to me narrator but I enjoyed her performance, especially some of the NY and NJ accents of the side characters.

The themes of body image, weight loss, and diet culture are very strong in this book so readers should take care.

I read a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars, rounded up

Pick this one up if you enjoy:
👙 Love triangle
👙 Self empowerment
👙 Body acceptance
👙 NYC setting
👙 Sex and the City vibes

This book starts with Sunny at an all time low - recently divorced, unable to find a decent plus-size swimsuit in the department store as her ex-husband’s judgemental comments echo in her head. But Sunny also knows that when you’ve hit the bottom, there’s no place to go but up.

I really enjoyed Sunny’s journey of self empowerment. This book is very Sex and the City-esque as Sunny explores the NYC dating scene, relies on her friends, and starts a new business idea.

The audiobook was so fun to listen to. This is a great read, perfect for summer!

Rating: 5⭐️/5

I LOVED this book. A story of finding oneself and embracing our bodies for what they are and defying the standards placed on us by society.

I thought Sunny was so witty and I really enjoyed watching her fall in love with herself and find her power. Such a sweet story filled with girl boss energy, love, heartbreak, witty banter and a love triangle.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

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. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Yael Rizowy. This is a new narrator to me, but boy, was I impressed. The voices, both male and female were wonderful, and that Queen's accent was excellent. Her tone and pacing were spot on and I know I enjoyed this one so much because I listened to it.
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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! Also big thanks to Macmillan Audio for the audiobook!

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.

I received the audiobook as an arc. It was a cute, easy to listen to story. I enjoyed the narrator - they were so skilled at using and maintaining accents and different voices for all of the different supporting characters. I appreciated the mindset in body appreciation and the complicated relationship with your self image and body acceptance. There are problematic and complicated relationships between the FMC and her love interests throughout the story. It was nice to see opinionated supporting characters voice the concerns you have as a reader while going through the journey. Overall, an enjoyable love story - the love of self the FMC gets throughout the novel, the love between female friends, and the love between dating partners.

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.

I received an advance copy of the audio book for review. I wanted to like this book, but I just couldn’t connect with the main character. I pushed myself to finish it, and hoped it would redeem itself, but in the end I felt like there were no real repercussions for the way she handled her dating life. So many of the situations seemed unbelievable and just wrong for me. Perhaps others will find it encouraging and enjoyable, but it wasn’t for me.

What an important story. Accepting ourselves completely as we are sounds so simple in theory but can be hard in practice.

What I loved about this book was that it was okay to be messy and not have it all figured out, but at the core was acceptance of ourselves.

I loved Sunny’s arc and how real, raw, and honest she felt as a character. She was flawed, and it was perfect. Her journey with Dennis, Ted, and Zack was very well done. I liked rooting for her love life and seeing it all come to fruition.

I enjoyed the aspects of her companies and finding her passions. I also loved The First Wives Club and Avery—some incredible female friendships.

I was invested, and when everything came to a head, I was audibly and physically reacting: I was very invested.

Overall, it is an excellent read about body positivity and female championing.

If you’re 30+, divorced, and/or plus-sized, pick this one up. It’s one of those rare stories that really gets what it’s like not to be in your 20s or rocking a “perfect” body. Super relatable and refreshing. It leans more toward women’s fiction, but there’s definitely some romance in the mix too.

ALC review

Sunny Green is a plus sized, recently divorced women that decides to accept her body after trying to change it.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

This is a book with romance, but the main point is about body acceptance and living your life at the fullest.
Even if she is a succesul business woman, Sunny still has anxiety and doubts.

The audiobook is narrated by Yael Rizowy, that managed to capture Sunny's personality.
Her character is funny, relatable and the narrator made the story enjoyable.

There were some things that Sunny did that I did not agree with.
Even if there was no discussion of the dating being exclusive, there was a love triangle that felt a lot like cheating.
Both love interests, Mr. Postman and Mr. Silverfox, were interesting characters, but I am glad that she ended up with the one I liked more.

Overall this was good story, with relatable characters and funny moments.
I liked that there was a distinction between body acceptance and body positivity and we saw a character growth.

The body positivity that Sunny Side Up brings to the world is a wonderful breath of fresh air! I loved Sunny’s growth and journey throughout the entire audiobook. I did get frustrated with her when it came to how she was handling the men in her life. As someone who was cheated, I expected more from her. But overall I really enjoyed the story. Narrator did a wonderful job!

Thank you to Kate Sturino, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the ALC!

Sunny side up was a great read/listen. I loved the narrator as she did a great job bringing Sunny to life. The story of Sunny was fun to be part of as you felt like one of her girlfriends on the divorcation or a stranger reading her blog. Her journey to find love for herself and someone to share that with while also discovering everything she was capable of was a fun one to follow. Definitely worth the read!

Sunny Side Up was a really sweet, easy read with a great message. I loved Sunny’s voice — she’s funny, relatable, and her body positivity journey was honestly refreshing to read. The New Girl vibes are strong: quirky main character, good NYC setting, and some fun chaotic romance energy thrown in.

That said, while I enjoyed the story, it didn’t fully grab me the way I hoped. There were a lot of different threads (the business, the newsletter, the romance, the friendships), and I sometimes wished we could’ve dug a little deeper into fewer storylines instead of juggling so many. The love triangle also felt a little underdeveloped for me — both love interests were fine, but neither totally pulled me in.

But overall? Still a cozy read with a feel-good vibe and a message I appreciate. If you’re looking for something light, empowering, and charming, this definitely fits the bill — just don’t expect super high stakes or deep emotional angst.