Katie Sturino’s debut novel Sunny Side Up arrives with all the confidence of its protagonist—a thirty-five-year-old divorcée who refuses to shrink herself to fit society’s expectations. Drawing from her own experience as a body-acceptance advocate and entrepreneur, Sturino crafts a romance that feels authentically contemporary while tackling themes that resonate far beyond the typical beach read.
A Heroine Worth Rooting For
Sunny Greene emerges as a refreshingly complex protagonist navigating the turbulent waters of post-divorce life in Manhattan. Fresh from her split with sports executive Zack Peterson, Sunny finds herself facing her brother’s wedding solo—a prospect that sends her spiraling into panic attacks in Bergdorf Goodman’s fitting rooms. But rather than wallowing, Sunny channels her frustration into something productive: launching SONNY, a size-inclusive luxury swimwear line born from her own dressing room trauma.
Sturino deserves credit for creating a heroine who doesn’t need “fixing.” Sunny’s journey isn’t about losing weight or conforming to conventional beauty standards. Instead, it’s about learning to value herself enough to pursue what she wants—whether that’s building an empire, falling in love, or simply existing in her body without constant self-criticism. The character’s evolution feels organic, driven by internal growth rather than external validation.
The Romance Triangle That Actually Works
Where many romance novels stumble with love triangles that feel contrived, Sturino presents two genuinely appealing options for Sunny’s affections. Dennis, the charming mailman with his easy humor and down-to-earth sensibility, represents comfort and authenticity. Ted Manns, the wealthy businessman who becomes SONNY’s investor, offers sophistication and the resources to make Sunny’s dreams reality.
The tension between these choices drives much of the novel’s emotional weight. Sturino smartly avoids making either man a villain—both Dennis and Ted have legitimate appeal, which makes Sunny’s internal conflict feel genuine rather than manufactured. The author’s background in PR and business adds authenticity to the corporate romance elements, particularly in scenes where Sunny navigates boardrooms and pitch meetings.
Body Positivity With Bite
Perhaps the novel’s greatest strength lies in its unflinching approach to body acceptance. Sturino doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of existing in a larger body in a world designed for thin people. Sunny’s experiences—from struggling to find well-fitting clothes to enduring microaggressions about her size—ring painfully true. The author’s own expertise as founder of Megababe and her advocacy work clearly informs these moments, lending them weight beyond mere plot devices.
The book’s most powerful scenes occur when Sunny confronts her own internalized fatphobia. Her panic attack in the Bergdorf fitting room serves as both catalyst and metaphor—the moment she decides to stop trying to fit into a world that doesn’t want her and instead create space for herself and others like her. It’s a radical act disguised as entrepreneurship.
Writing Style That Captures Modern Life
Sturino’s prose crackles with contemporary energy, perfectly capturing the voice of a successful millennial woman juggling career, dating apps, and family obligations. Her dialogue feels natural and unforced, particularly in group scenes with Sunny’s “First Wives Club”—best friends Brooke and Noor who provide both comic relief and emotional support.
The author has a gift for comedic timing, whether she’s describing dating app disasters or Sunny’s father’s relentless dad jokes. These lighter moments prevent the novel from becoming too heavy-handed with its messaging, though occasionally the humor feels forced when dealing with more serious themes.
The narrative structure, organized around monthly chapters leading up to Michael’s wedding, provides natural momentum while allowing for character development. Sturino intersperses newsletter excerpts from Sunny’s body-positive Substack throughout the novel, a clever device that shows rather than tells us about her growing influence and confidence.
Areas Where the Novel Falters
While Sunny Side Up succeeds in many areas, it’s not without flaws. The pacing occasionally drags during business scenes, particularly when detailing SONNY’s development process. Readers seeking pure romance might find themselves skimming through extensive passages about manufacturing and retail partnerships.
The resolution of Sunny’s romantic dilemma, while emotionally satisfying, feels somewhat rushed after such careful buildup. Additionally, some secondary characters—particularly Sunny’s ex-husband Zack—veer toward caricature rather than feeling like fully realized people.
The novel’s treatment of class differences between Dennis and Ted occasionally feels simplistic, playing into familiar rich-versus-working-class romantic tropes without fully exploring their implications. Given Sturino’s nuanced handling of body politics, this feels like a missed opportunity for similar depth.
Themes That Resonate
Beyond romance, Sunny Side Up tackles themes of female entrepreneurship, family loyalty, and the courage required to live authentically. Sunny’s relationship with her family—particularly her brother Michael and their well-meaning but sometimes tone-deaf parents—feels genuine and lived-in. The wedding deadline serves as more than just romantic pressure; it becomes a symbol of Sunny proving to herself and others that she’s thriving post-divorce.
The novel’s exploration of female friendship deserves special mention. Brooke and Noor feel like real people with their own struggles rather than mere cheerleaders for Sunny’s journey. Their group dynamic captures the way close friendships can serve as chosen family, providing support systems that traditional romance often overlooks.
Business Meets Romance
Sturino’s background in PR and beauty entrepreneurship shines through in her depiction of building a business from the ground up. The scenes detailing SONNY’s development—from initial sketches to factory visits to the final launch party—feel authentic and informative without becoming dry. For readers interested in the mechanics of starting a company, particularly in fashion, these sections provide genuine insight.
The integration of business and romance themes works better than expected. Sunny’s professional success becomes inseparable from her personal growth, challenging the notion that women must choose between career fulfillment and romantic happiness.
Cultural Impact and Representation
Sunny Side Up arrives at a crucial moment in popular culture’s relationship with body diversity. While body-positive romance has gained traction in recent years, Sturino brings unique authority to the conversation through her real-world advocacy work. The novel doesn’t just feature a plus-size heroine; it actively challenges the systems that marginalize larger bodies.
The book’s treatment of size-inclusive fashion feels particularly timely given ongoing industry conversations about representation and accessibility. Sunny’s struggles to find appropriate clothing for various occasions—from swimwear to business attire—highlight how exclusionary fashion can be while offering hope through her entrepreneurial solution.
Comparisons to Contemporary Romance
Readers familiar with Emily Henry’s beach reads or the witty contemporaries of Christina Lauren will find similar energy in Sunny Side Up, though Sturino’s business background adds a layer of authenticity often missing in corporate romance. The novel shares DNA with classic romantic comedies like Bridget Jones’s Diary but updates the formula for an era more conscious of body politics and female ambition.
Unlike some body-positive romance that feels performative, Sturino’s approach feels lived-in and genuine. Her advocacy background prevents the novel from treating Sunny’s size as either a problem to be solved or an obstacle to overcome—instead, it’s simply part of who she is.
Final Verdict
Sunny Side Up succeeds as both romance and social commentary, offering readers a heroine worth rooting for and a love story that doesn’t require anyone to change themselves to deserve happiness. While not perfect—some pacing issues and rushed resolution prevent it from being truly exceptional—it represents a strong debut that promises even better things to come.
Sturino has created a novel that feels both entertaining and important, proving that romance can tackle serious themes without sacrificing the joy readers seek in the genre. For anyone who has ever felt excluded by mainstream beauty standards or struggled to see themselves represented in popular culture, Sunny Side Up offers both mirror and window—reflecting their experiences while opening up possibilities for different kinds of love stories.
The book works best for readers seeking contemporary romance with substance, particularly those interested in entrepreneurship, body acceptance, and female friendship. While it may not convert skeptics of the romance genre, it should satisfy fans looking for stories that reflect the complexity of modern womanhood.
Similar Reads Worth Exploring
For readers who enjoyed Sunny Side Up, consider these comparable titles:
- Beach Read by Emily Henry – For witty dialogue and dual career/romance focus
- The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary – For unconventional romance structure and authentic character development
- Big Girl by Danielle Steel – For plus-size heroines finding love and success
- The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang – For diverse representation in contemporary romance
- By The Book by Jasmine Guillory – For modern career women navigating love and ambition
- Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert – For body-positive romance with humor and heart
Katie Sturino has established herself as a voice worth watching in contemporary romance, bringing real-world expertise to fictional storytelling in ways that feel both entertaining and meaningful. Sunny Side Up may be her first novel, but it reads like the work of someone who understands both the power of love stories and the importance of seeing all kinds of bodies and lives represented within them.
