SUNNY SIDE UP by Katie Sturino
9781250344205
6/24/25
Celadon Books
Fiction / Romance / Women
The city never sleeps, and neither does Sunny, a plus-sized Sex and the City-style blogger whose adventures navigating dressing room nightmares, disastrous hookups, and her brother’s looming wedding day make for a whirlwind debut sure to charm even the most cynical reader.
Sunny, a success in her small PR empire, knows that many things in her bustling city life are not made for her—not the too-small plane seats or the ugly department store bathing suits, and certainly not her conceited ex-husband. But rather than losing herself in the sting of rejection, Sunny vows to keep her eyes on what matters: her loyal friends, her gorgeous Chelsea apartment, and Sunny Side Up, her popular Substack newsletter where she keeps her fanbase updated on everything, including her dating adventures. It isn’t long before she stumbles upon a new dream, one that will change everything: her own line of swimsuits, made especially for women like her.
As her idea gains traction and her relationships with two men—one a wealthy businessman with an interest in her swimsuit line, the other a charming but reclusive mailman who she can’t stop smiling around—grow more serious, Sunny must take a step back to evaluate the voices around her. When her family, her friends, and even her ex-husband seem to have an opinion on her next steps, Sunny must ensure that she stays true to herself and the sparkling ambition that drove her to start writing in the first place.
To me, what distinguishes this novel is the personality and energy infused into Sunny’s narration. She is every bit the relatable rom-com heroine, with unselfconscious gestures to her favorite tv shows, her romantic desires, and even her darker thoughts and fears about herself. Despite her willingness to acknowledge the social and systemic biases which prompt her to feel ashamed of her body, she is never in danger of succumbing to them, or of settling for less than the business, blog, and partner of her dreams. Sunny is a protagonist who happily prioritizes herself and her mission, and she is ultimately rewarded for it.
Playful, heartwarming, and romantic, Sunny’s story is one of joyful connection. For fans of Talia Hibbert and Kate Stayman-London, or for those simply in need of a pick-me-up equivalent to a stroll in the park with your dogs, SUNNY SIDE UP is the book for you.
“You’ll fall in love with Sunny—a modern-day Bridget Jones without the toxic self-loathing—as she navigates the pleasures and perils of being a big girl in a big city. If you love Katie Sturino’s Instagram feed and body positive message, you will love this absolute delight of a novel.”—Jennifer Weiner, New York Times bestselling author of Good in Bed and The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits
“Sturino has created a next-gen Sex and the City where furniture store meet cutes are traded for app dating disasters and Carrie’s column is swapped for a Substack newsletter, all set against the backdrop of a new era of NYC hotspots. But at its center—as with the original—is a beating heart of female friendship and an unshakable belief in true love.”—Becca Freeman, author of The Christmas Orphans Club and co-host of the Bad on Paper podcast
The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.
