I had a hard time with this book. The main character, Sunny, is a plus sized woman who is trying to create more opportunity for fashion in that realm. However, during this endeavor, she has a plethora of relationships simultaneously - which I fast forwarded through (do not enjoy the spice nor the poly approach) There is an air of entitlement and she seems to get everything she wants.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC audio.

Struggling with her recent divorce and her weight, Sunny Greene is unhappy at the thought of attending her brother's wedding without a date. She and some other just-divorced friends decide to go on vacation to the tropics to celebrate their freedom. The big problem for Sunny though is what to wear. She dreads swimsuit shopping, as the offerings for people her size all look like bags. With a tailor, Sunny creates her very own comfy and cute swimsuit.

She runs her own PR firm and is trying to regain her confidence post-divorce. She blogs about how she's coping on social media and has a lot of followers, encouraging her to date again and enjoying the stories of her disastrous dates found online through dating services. She decides to 'go for it' and posts graphic descriptions of her one-night stands, crushes, and clothing issues.

Sunny decides to try to get her plus size but attractive swimsuit line into stores. She takes on a business partner and suddenly, it's raining men. Ted, her new, older, businessman and partner asks her out. Dennis, her mailman, turns out to be a surprisingly great guy, and even her ex shows up in an effort to reconnect.

Sunny has some big decisions to make on both the business and personal fronts. The book is humorous, though somewhat predictable. Narrator Yael Rozowy brings Sunny to life.

3.75 ⭐️ ( round up to 4)

This was a fun listen. The FMC’s struggles with body image and clothing hit close to home, and I loved how confident and magnetic she was. She's curvy, flirty, and totally owning it.

Yael Rizowy is my new favorite narrator. She brought every emotion to life with ease. I enjoyed her energy protraying all the characters. And the cherry on top? Katie reading her own dedications at the end.

This was a four star, uplifting, body-positive, and empowering read—and my first by Katie Sturino!

Right away, I connected with the challenges Sunny faces as she learns to love and accept her body. That journey—of recognizing what our bodies do for us, refusing to take them for granted, and not letting anyone else define what our bodies “should” look like—felt incredibly personal and relatable.

I admired the determination Sunny showed in pursuing her goals and stepping into her power. Whether it was dating, discovering physical intimacy, or designing a swimsuit that made her feel unstoppable, Sunny was a force to be reckoned with!

That said, I did find myself frustrated by her continued desire to find a date for an upcoming wedding—especially after telling everyone she wanted to feel confident and whole on her own. I would’ve loved to see that thread handled a little differently.

And while I mostly enjoyed the audiobook, I’ll admit the narrator’s voice wasn’t my favorite—it had a gossipy tone that didn’t quite match how I pictured Sunny: successful, mature, and confident.

Still, this was a humorous, raw, and super relatable read—and one I definitely recommend! It’s available now!

Thank you NetGalley, Katie Sturino, Macmillan Audio, and Celadon Books for the opportunity to read and listen to this inspiring and feel-good story!

*Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for early copy for review*

3.5 rounded down.

I listened to the audiobook for this and the narrator did a fantastic job lending her voice to the characters. I liked all of the accents she did for all the men in Sunny's dating pool.

The story was okay, but should have been set in the 2010s. As someone who is Sunny's age she felt older than me. She talked like someone in their 40s. I was taken out of the story when things from current day was mentioned.

When it comes to her dating she really needed to talk more with her partners before jumping in bed with them. It would have been nice to have a scene with her at a clinic getting tested for stds and asking her partners about this as well. Also the ultimate romance felt to forced in the end.

It was a decent listen, but I did have to suspend my disbelief for these aspects.

A great romcom summer read! Sunny is post-divorce & struggling with some body image issues, but otherwise things are going great when we meet her. I liked that she was already a successful businesswoman/ nice businesswoman, because I started the book believing in her and rooting for her. It was fun to read about her getting back out there and starting a new business. Her friends (& her dogs, named after Golden Girls) are all great characters I enjoyed spending time with in the sunshine.
As far as the audio version goes, it was good. My one complaint would be that one of the major characters had a Queens accent that felt like a overdone (it reminded me of a character from Jessie, a show my kids loved on the Disney Channel). Otherwise, I enjoyed listening to this story!
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy!

This book was just a great time from start to finish. It made me laugh and it held my interest from the first page, and it was such an empowering female read!

Sunny is a mid-life divorcee who perpetually carries a few extra pounds, and she is so much fun to hang out with. She has a biting wit and is a great storyteller, and she is a powerhouse business woman, too.

I listened to the audio for this one, and it was a great story to hear through my headphones. The narration was strong and fun, and it felt like being at your favorite happy hour catching up with your girlfriends.

At the beginning of this story, we find Sunny crying in a fitting room, but by the end she’s found her voice, found love and, most importantly, found herself.

Have you gone through anything in your life that has helped you find out more about who you are?

Big thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Katie Sturino for the audio ARC of Sunny Side Up! ☀️📖 Packed with humor, inclusivity, and a refreshing dose of body neutrality. The narrator was a standout for me — her voice brought so much personality to the story and made the characters feel totally alive.

That said, there were a few slower spots that dragged just a bit, and I would’ve loved a deeper dive into the backstories of the other first wives — I felt like they had more to say! Maybe a sequel on the horizon? 👀

Quick Synopsis: In this funny and heartfelt debut by Katie Sturino, plus-sized PR powerhouse Sunny Greene decides it is finally time to love her body, embrace confidence, and dive back into dating after a messy divorce. As she navigates new romances, unexpected exes, and big career dreams, Sunny learns that putting herself first might just lead to everything she has been searching for.

My Thoughts: Sunny Side Up was my first experience with Katie Sturino’s work (even though one of my friends has been a fan for years!), and I am so glad I jumped in. This story is a breezy, body-positive romp about Sunny Greene, a newly divorced thirty-something fashion queen learning to love her body and her life again. There is so much here that is relatable, from comparing yourself to your ex’s new girlfriends to your parents only ever wanting to FaceTime together (why is that always a thing?). I also have to admit my 88-year-old grandma read my ARC too and she enjoyed it a lot, although she told me with a grin she “skipped the risqué bits.” 😂 I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars. I rooted for Sunny, but I wish her success did not come quite so easily; at times she felt deeply relatable, and at others not at all, with everything magically falling into place.

As for the narration: Yael Rizowy absolutely nails it. Her voice for Sunny is warm, fun, and self-deprecating, and she gives each character their own distinct voice, something I always appreciate in an audiobook. It made it so easy to follow conversations and kept me engaged. I listened as I read along and found the pacing spot on. The transitions between chapters and scenes were smooth, and I never felt confused about where we were in the story (which can sometimes be tricky with audiobooks). There were no fancy sound effects or music, but honestly, Rizowy did not need them; her lively performance was more than enough.

If you love books about body image, friendship, and finding yourself, you will probably enjoy this one. It is perfect for fans of Emily Henry’s humor and hopeful tone or readers who love the dating misadventures of Sex and the City. Maybe pair it with Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner or One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London. I do recommend the audio because Rizowy brings Sunny’s world to life in a way that would be hard to replicate on the page alone. Just be prepared: one plot point from the publisher’s synopsis does not actually happen until around 70% in, which drove me a little nuts. Overall though, a fun listen that left me smiling.

Thank you #CeladonBooks & @macmillan.audio for providing this book and audio for review consideration via @NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This one was........fine. Very predictable (even for a romance), and painful to watch unfold. While I appreciated the body image messages, they were very heavy handed and overdone, and the sheer number of references became a detractor from the overall plot.

I’ve been a fan of Katie Sturino since her @The12ishStyle days on Instagram. One thing you can always count on from Katie is her refreshing honesty—whether she's calling out fashion’s size exclusivity, normalizing sweat and chafing, or sharing her strong opinions on coffee. Sunny Side Up feels like an extended version of her witty, relatable online stories brought to life in novel form.

Sunny, recently divorced, is off on a “divorcation” with her two best friends, but first makes a stop at Bergdorf to find a cute suit. What follows is, unfortunately, an all-too-familiar experience for many women: the frustrating and demeaning search for stylish clothes in sizes above a 12. After a small meltdown, Sunny decides to channel her frustration into action. Together with her assistant Avery and a talented tailor named Katarina, she creates a plan for a swimwear line that is not only size-inclusive but actually beautiful—no more giant floral prints or basic black as the only options. Every woman deserves to feel confident and seen, especially in a swimsuit.

As Sunny embarks on this empowering business venture, she also reboots her Sunny Side Up blog, gaining a fresh following with her candid commentary and charming dating updates. Her fans quickly become invested, rooting for one of two men vying to be her date to her brother’s upcoming wedding in Chicago.

Following Sunny’s journey as she boldly launches a new business and unexpectedly finds love is engaging. Her ability to stand tall in the boardroom and be vulnerable in the bedroom is inspirational. This cozy romance is a celebration of self-acceptance and the power of living authentically. It’s a joyful reminder that there’s no one right way to exist in the world—and embracing who you are is the most beautiful thing of all.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and of course the author Katie Sturino for the advanced copy of the audiobook. Sunny Side Up is out now. All opinions are my own.

This novel, while well written, is a huge trigger for anyone with body image issues, weight gain, eating disorders, etc. The first 10% of the book was spent discussing that. It was difficult to get past this, so I cannot confirm there is not a positive message about this in the end, but it was just not for me.

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.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1CIPX6G620DEG/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

I can appreciate the way this book is for any girl who has had body image issues and/or has gone through a divorce with a terrible partner. That aspect and Sunny dealing with those things was pretty good. This is just one of those books where I kind of wish romance wasn’t a part of it or had less focus. Sunny’s journey into loving herself, her divorce friends, and her career would have been enough for me. I did like the idea of her dipping back into the dating world after her divorce. In the beginning, I liked it because she was finding her confidence and empowerment again. Once the love triangle developed I wasn’t into it as much though. I also feel like this story as a whole is wildly unrealistic. Everything happens so fast and easy for Sunny. She barely has any setbacks or conflicts. I would have liked a little higher stakes for Sunny at any point.
Overall, it was an enjoyable light read though.
🎧
I listened to the audiobook and I did enjoy the narration. The narrator changed her voice for different characters so it was easy to follow. She really brought Sunny to life in a great way. I highly recommend the audiobook format.

5stars for narration
3.5 stars for story

Sunny Side Up is an easy and light read, if you're looking for a true romance this is not it. It's more of a woman's fiction. I did enjoy the message and where the author wanted to take the story but the way it unfolded just felt highly unrealistic to me. The FMC was literally given everything so easily, she didn't work for anything, didn't have to face true struggles or rejection, so in that aspect I just didn't feel it was relatable. As a plus size girlie I do really appreciate what this book wanted to convey and what it wanted to do. It also felt highly toxic in the way she dealt with her issues, she didn't need a man she needed to see a therapist.

Overall, this is a light and easy read that can be read without needing too much focus. Perfect for the beach or pool when you can't entirely focus. I loved the message but the execution fell flat for me.

✨️Thank you to @macmillanaudio, @grandcentralpub & Katie Sturino for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

Sunny Side Up was a great read! I loved the premise and the story was told perfectly. Sunny is an important character in today's climate - we love rooting for a plus-size queen (like myself). I loved the audio - super well done!

Thank you again for the ARC!

4.25/5, rounded down

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

I had noooo idea what this book was about when I started it, and what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be!

This was a memoir-style novel about a plus-sized woman dating, finding her self-esteem, running 2 businesses and healing post-divorce.

I loved our main character's witty, open, and bright narration style. She did a really great job of encapsulating who I thought Sunny was through her narration, as well. While there were a few frustrating/borderline redundant moments, this book was really easy to read quickly, and hard to put down.

As a woman who has been plus-size my entire life, so much of this really spoke to me. I was laughing out loud immediately when she was describing trying on swimsuits in the department store. I think any woman, plus sized or not, can relate to so much of this book and the way that society has forced us to question our bodies' worth over our lives.

Not only was this book empowering, it was also entertaining and funny! So many of the dating attempts and overall interactions with her friends and family had me laughing and cringing at the same time. I haven’t read a book that I connected to so much in a while, and this was such a great confidence boost for the start of summer in a plus sized body!!

I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Yael Rizowy. The narration was very good. I enjoyed the upbeat tone of her voice.

This is the story of a plus sized woman starting her own business to serve women just like her. She's an influencer who has a family wedding coming up and everyone keeps assuring that it's okay if she has to go alone.

I had some trouble getting into this one. Parts were funny and I really felt for Sunny with the dating aspect of the story, but it didn't bother me at all to miss parts. I never wanted to go back to hear what I had missed. That's not a good sign.

I am glad that Sunny ended up with the guy that she did.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

--Things I loved about this book: "plus-sized" (and I use that term very loosely...I would size average/normal size!) FMC and body positivity throughout.
--Things that didn't work for me: the sexual content just didn't jive for me (for too liberal for me/my tastes) and while I loved the female relationships, I couldn't connect with the "high roller" status of these women.

I listened to it on audio and really like the narrator, which helped keep me engaged, but overall I'm not sure this would be one I would recommend. It might be just the right pick for others though and be a great beach read for someone else. *I received a complimentary audio ARC from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The setting was one of my favorites. The characters were well developed and the story line kept me turning the pages!