Totally Booked with Zibby Katie Sturino, SUNNY SIDE UP: A Novel
Nov 19, 2025
Katie Sturino, entrepreneur and debut novelist, dives into her romcom, SUNNY SIDE UP, inspired by her own post-divorce journey. She discusses portraying a confident, bigger-bodied woman in a dating landscape, challenging revenge body tropes. Highlighting the power of female friendships, she shares insights into her personal care brand, Megababe, tackling taboo body issues with humor. Katie also offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and reflects on the importance of changing body narratives, underscoring a life lived beyond appearances.
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Rewriting The Divorce Narrative
- Katie Sturino wanted a divorce-to-reinvention story that didn't rely on a 'revenge body' arc.
- She chose to center a confident, bigger-bodied woman who gains weight and still thrives.
Bold Dating Scenes Reflect Real Feelings
- Sunny has an active, adventurous sex life early in the book, including surprising encounters.
- Katie parallels some of this with her own post-divorce experiences but not every scene is autobiographical.
Facing Public Shaming In Dating
- Katie includes a painful scene where a partner says vulgar, shaming things about being with a 'fat girl.'
- She wrote it to show exposure of fears and Sunny's resilience afterward.
