I actually went through several times of not wanting to turn off my audio and go to bed while listening to the new book Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino, it was just so cute and fun, that it was one of those books that you read and just want to keep on so you know what happens next.

I have never read a book by Katie Sturino, and Sunny Side Up certainly has made me a fan of hers. She has written a story that has romance, I mean the whole debate on Mr Postman vs The Silver Fox was relatable. Most of us at one time or another have had two guys we just couldn't decide which one was the best for us, because they both seemed great. It was also a story that was empowering, Sunny was successful , smart, and living her best life in NYC. She was positive about her weight, and much of her story taught us to embrace our bodies and our choices.

I liked Sonny, but many times I did not relate to her choices or attitude. I struggle with my body image and am not as accepting of it as she is, and I was not in my younger years as free with sex as she was, especially how comfortable she was with it, but I still enjoyed her and related to her throughout the book on other things.

I really enjoyed Mr. Postman ( yes he has a real name ). He was one of the most human characters I have read in a while. He was not perfect, he was color blind and made questionable fashion choices. He seemed almost awkward and nerdy to me, and honestly I think this is why I loved him even more. He felt real. Also, if you happen to be listening to this book, the narrator did a wonderfully funny thick New York Accent with him, that makes it worth the listen.

Yes, of course, there were things that were not perfect with the story, isn't there always? Sunny seemed to get everything she wanted without much work, it felt to perfectly aligned, but I was able to overlook the few things because of the fun I found in the book. It's fiction, we don't have to have everything a life struggle for the characters do we? I think for me, I need to let go and suspend reality for a bit while I read ad just enjoy. ( THIS is why I am not a good fantasy reader. I struggle with that )

This is the perfect poolside/beach read. Quick, enjoyable and will make you laugh!

3 ⭐️
Sunny Greene is 35, recently divorced, and needs to find a date to her brother’s wedding. Sunny has gained some weight and is crying in the swimsuit section because nothing fits right. (Can I get an amen to this!! I HATE swimsuit shopping)

She’s got a successful PR career, a nice apartment, two dogs who adore her, and ride-or-die besties. Sunny decides it’s time to stop hating her body, start loving herself, and maybe even have some fun dating again.

Her dating is a hot mess. There’s Dennis, the super nice mailman who might actually be perfect. Then there’s Ted, the rich guy who wants to invest in her size-inclusive swimwear line (and maybe her). And just when things are finally looking up.. here comes her ex showing interest again.

Overall this book was okay. For me the body image stuff was a little over done.
If you are a plus size girly who likes to read about body positivity and the struggles of loving yourself and your body, you will probably like this book.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher Macmillan Audio for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Release date: June 24, 2025

Sunny Side Up is a body positive book about a powerhouse business woman in New York, recently divorced and trying to manage her new life. She has body issues that she is learning to deal with, and find clothes taht are fabulous for her size. Her brother’s wedding is coming up, and she’s desperate to find a date and prove she is worthy of great love. This is a great story about finding yourself in your 30's, when life throws you curve balls.
The narrator was very good! Great at different New York accents!

Sunny Greene is slowly bouncing back from her divorce, but a major test of her progress looms: attending her younger brother’s wedding alone. With the help of her tight-knit divorce-club friends, Sunny pushes through the emotional minefields, searching for confidence and a sense of self.

A breakthrough arrives in an unexpected place: the fitting room. Teaming up with a swimsuit designer to create flattering, body-positive swimwear for plus-size women, Sunny begins to rediscover purpose and passion. What starts as a personal challenge transforms into an empowering business idea.

Along the way, readers meet a colorful cast—Sunny’s lively group of friends, a kindhearted colleague, and her frustratingly unsupportive ex. Together, they form the backdrop for a story about reinvention, self-love, and ambition.

Inspired by the real-life journey of Katie Sturino, this feel-good novel channels the energy of a next-gen Carrie Bradshaw—bold, body-confident, and totally relatable.

#YaelRizowy #MacmillanAudio #KatieSturino #BodyPositivity #DivorceGlowUp

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3 Spicy Peppers)
Pub Date: 06/24/25 🚨

I had such a great time listening to this audiobook ARC—it totally got me in the mood for summer and all the fun, flirty beach reads I love this time of year! ☀️📚

Set in New York City (my favorite backdrop!), the story follows a fabulous FMC navigating life after divorce. As a publicist, she’s witty, stylish, and determined to reclaim her voice. After putting her popular newsletter on hold due to her husband's embarrassment, she decides to relaunch it—sharing everything from NYC lifestyle tips and dating stories to fashion advice. I loved that she works in PR—bonus points from me!

One of the standout moments in the book was her emotional experience shopping for a swimsuit at Bergdorf’s. As a plus-size woman, she’s frustrated by the limited options and leaves feeling humiliated. But instead of letting it defeat her, she turns that moment into something empowering by designing a suit of her own. That spark leads her to launch an inclusive swimwear line—one of my favorite arcs in the book!

Her dating life also kept me hooked, with a fun mix of romance, steamy moments (hello, 3 spicy peppers! 🔥), and heartfelt decisions that made me root for her every step of the way.

If you're looking for a fun, romantic, empowering summer read that celebrates confidence, reinvention, and life in NYC, this book is absolutely worth adding to your TBR!

Thank you Celadon, Macmillian Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ebook/audiobook

i had such a lovely time with this one. i felt like the pacing was great and showcased a lot of depth with this main characters. i found myself unable to stop reading which is always a great feeling. the writing style was engaging and felt fresh!

A fun and uplifting read from the lovely Katie Sturino.

I always wonder what will happen when someone with no background in fiction writing decides to write a novel, and this was a fantastic surprise. Not only is it well put together, thoughtful, funny, and narratively well-crafted, it actually *sounds* like Katie if you follow her on social and in her other endeavors.

The book has a lovely message about self acceptance, and does a really good job of being affirming to the reader without ever getting preachy.

I love Katie’s sense of humor and that comes through in the subtle but clever comedy of the novel, but where this book really shines in its sweetness, which is delivered with a light touch as a sort of modern fairy tale that hits all the right notes in terms of being a charming, feel-good story arc without getting schlocky or saccharine.

I’ll go ahead and call this a must-read for summer, especially if you like a smarter-than-your-average beach read.

I absolutely loved Sunny Side Up when I read it in book form—the story was heartfelt, charming, and genuinely enjoyable. Unfortunately, the audiobook didn’t deliver the same experience. The narrator's performance didn’t capture the tone or personality of the characters in a way that resonated with me. It lacked the warmth and nuance that made the book so special. I ended up stopping the audio and was thankful I had already read the book to appreciate the story fully.

Freshly divorced and feeling insecure while swimsuit shopping, Sunny decides to take hold of her life and starts dating and pursuing her own plus size swim brand.

I enjoyed this one as Sunny is a confident leading lady and shows how to be accepting of your body. We follow her journey in finding herself post-divorce including her messy dating in NYC, newfound friendships, and pursuing new dreams.

I do think her business success was a bit unbelievable and came too easily, but otherwise found this one entertaining to listen to. If you're looking for a light beach read this summer I recommend picking this one up.

Sunny, a divorced 35-year-old fashion PR firm CEO, navigates her restarted dating life. It’s empowering and promotes positive body image, but the pacing and focus could’ve been better. Despite this, I enjoyed the audiobook due to the narrator’s great job of doing different voices and accents for all characters.

3.5 stars. Sunny Side Up is a romantic comedy about divorced, 35-year-old Sunny, who runs her own boutique PR firm and is finding her way after a painful divorce. I have mixed feelings about this one. It is a lighthearted, funny, and spicy, but a bit frustrating at times and unrealistic. Sunny has always “struggled” with her weight and has been subject to comments about it from her mother and others around her. I think if you have body issues, this could be triggering to read.

It frustrated me that someone who said she was previously a 12/14 and 5'11" was obsessed with her large size. Tall, sure, but she’s not obese, probably not even overweight at that dress size! Maybe I'm odd in that I don’t constantly fret about my size/weight even though I am overweight. She had gained some weight post-divorce, and I can understand the anxiety that comes with dramatic weight gain. I really appreciated that she was able to accept her new body and understand its utility.

Sunny starts to date again throughout the novel and gets into some pretty entertaining antics. The love triangle was fun and spicy. Dennis and Ted are compelling characters and it’s fun to see Sunny date them. Sunny’s career moves swimmingly as she has her own PR company and creates a new line of swimwear. The lack of any roadblocks made it a bit unrealistic, but it was a fun ride to be on.
I listened to the audiobook, which was well-narrated by Yael Rizowy. She had such entertaining delivery, especially with dialogue within the novel.

Thank you Celadon and NetGalley for providing this ebook/audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC Audiobook. I love Katie Sturino, and have been following her online for years.

This is well written, with a good sense of humour. The plot was a not so subtle education in fat phobia, which, although appreciated by this reader, felt like it overtook the actual story being told.

I would love a non-fiction account of Sturino’s experiences!

Audio narration was great!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 STARS⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

With its infectious charm, "Sunny Side Up" immediately brightened my reading experience. From laugh-out-loud moments to thoughtful reflections and fervent cheers for Sunny, this book grabbed me instantly. Sturino's honest portrayal of life's complexities—friendships, family, and navigating the ups and downs of relationships and personal growth—resonated deeply. I could feel her authenticity in her writing. Sturino masterfully blends humor with touching insights, creating a narrative that's both relatable and captivating. I devoured this five-star gem in a single listen and was genuinely sad to reach the end.

3.75 stars rounded up. Another review where I say, “I don’t really do romance, but this was an entertaining read!” A recently divorced plus-size influencer establishes a body positive swimsuit line and finds herself mixed up in an (almost) love triangle. Easy listening. Funny in parts. Fun for summer! Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC! Publishing 6/24/25.

Sunny Green has a lot going on. She's running her fashion-forward public relations agency, she's freshly divorced from a man she should never have married, and she has more body image issues than shoes in her closet. It doesn't help matters any when she finds herself stuck - literally - in a bathing suit in the dressing room in Bergdorf Goodmans. A terrible suit, no less.

When she decided to use her brother's impending wedding as the impetus to get her life together. She's inspired to start a luxury size inclusive swimsuit company and relaunch her newsletter, Sunny Side Up. She also takes charge of her sexuality, and goes on the hunt to reclaim herself AND find a date for her brother's wedding. And, yes, she does chronicle this all in her newsletter.

What Sunny doesn't expect is that life doesn't always turn out the way you think. Sometimes it's even better.

Beautifully narrated - I especially LOVED the narrator's portrayal of Dennis, the handsome postman from Queens. I was sad when this book was over; I can't wait to pick up a copy and reread it!

Cute and entertaining listen. I was excited to hear who sunny would end up with at the end. Perfect for an enjoyable summer read by the pool or outside.

A heartwarming and humorous tale of self-acceptance and love. Sunny Greene's journey post-divorce is both relatable and inspiring. Sturino delivers a modern-day Bridget Jones without the self-loathing.

I went into this really expecting to love the book based on the description. Unfortunately I just couldn’t get into it and connect to the characters. I unfortunately had to dnf.

I'm beginning by saying that I think there are people who would love this book... I am just not one of them.

I found the book unrealistic and there were a lot of little things that I did not enjoy.

But, the book is fun, light, and easy.

Sunny Side Up is like a mimosa-fueled pep talk from your sassiest, most self-assured friend who won’t let you settle—for a man, a job, or a swimsuit that screams “sad beige.” Sunny Greene is a plus-sized powerhouse navigating love, business, and body image with equal parts chaos and charm. Dennis the mailman? Adorable. Ted the tycoon? Tempting. Her ex? Boy, bye.

Katie Sturino serves up confidence, comedy, and curve-celebrating realness with a side of dog hair and designer drama. It’s giving Sex and the City meets Eat Pray Love, but with better Spanx and way more self-respect. Sunny’s journey proves you don’t need to shrink to shine. Loved it.

Thank you Katie Sturino, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

#sunnysideup #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreview #netgalley #arcreview #arc #arcreader #review #somanybookssolittletime