Thoughts 
Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen, A Bantam Book / 2008 9780553805499, 276 pages Hardback
MOTIVATION for READING: I bought this because it was on the Bargain Table for $4, I adored SAA’s novel Garden Spells, this author reminds me of a blogger friend who is responsible for bringing SAA to my attention and I needed something exactly like this when I was looking for a lighter book to read alongside Ulysses. And I liked the orange color and gold leaf on the cover. Not for any challenge.
WHAT’s it ABOUT: A girl, excuse me – a woman well in her early 30s, feels responsible for taking care of her mother to atone for how horrible she was as a very very young child. The mother is not the nicest person, shall we say. Yes, we will say this. She discovers another townie in her closet one day who needs to hide and escape an abusive relationship. This person pushes Josey (Josey is the name of the first girl woman I mentioned) to move beyond her safe contained life of servitude and do some things quite out of character and against her mother’s wishes. Wonderful madcap adventures ensue. Well, sort of. Misadventures? Josey makes friends of the girlfriend AND the boyfriend kind. The reader is swept away and roots for everyone! The ending caught me off guard, which is always fun. I should have seen it coming, but I didn’t. Smiles
I LOVED THIS STORY!!!! Makes me feel all happy gooey inside.
I want to read everything Sarah Addison Allen writes, past and future.
Ha! Easy as pie. Strawberry pie. Strawberry rhubarb pie with fresh vanilla ice cream. -p.135
RATING: Five Slices
HIdeinWhitetoSkipLine
Ahh!!! I’m glad you thought of me and picked this up, wasn’t it sweet?? I reviewed it here: http://tinyurl.com/68qk4oc
Hi Lisa! Yes, I should have linked to this review as well.
I, too, love the bits of magic.
I want to read anything that you love!
RR – wow! Thanks!
I have loved all of SAA’s books and am looking forward to her new book The Peachkeeper which is coming out soon!
Elisabeth, thank you for letting me know. I was under the impression that she only had these 2 books until I finally did some research. I’m a fan.
I have read a lot of good things about this author and her books, and actually think I have Garden Spells on my shelf, so it’s good to hear that this one was such a good read also. I like the fact that this is an uplifting book, which is something that I really need right now. Thanks for the wonderful review. You’ve got a great site here!
Zibilee, I guess you could call them fantasy but such a light and gentle touch to the magic, it is so sweet.
I too have heard lots of good things about this author and about this book in particular. And anyone who feels as I do about strawberry rhubarb pie w/vanilla ice cream on top – well, that’s practically a guarantee I’ll like it!
Jill, strawberry rhubarb pie IS summer, wouldn’t you agree? Mmmmmmm…. I want me some summer right now.
I bought Garden Spells after seeing so many raves on blogs. I think I should read it and if I love it like I suspect I will, I should look for this book.
Kathy, if I was the betting type, I think you would enjoy either/both of these books.
Well, I must give SAA another chance if you loved this one so much!
Lisa, wait! You had a not-so-good experience? I’ll go check your blog…
I really like her books! The new one will be out very soon.
Kailana! And a few earlier books I hope to getk to, also.
I’ve enjoyed all the books this author has written. She has a new one for 2011, but I can’t recall the title. Glad u loved it!
Diane, sorry – the spam catcher captured this comment and I just now noticed. Yes, SAA has a new one called THe Peach Keeper and I only recently realized she has more before Garden Spells. It will be fun to read them all.
And it probably didn’t hurt that there was mention of pie.
And if I remember correctly, this is the one with the magical books, too. I loved those books.
Yes, this is the story where books of importance would just show up. Very cute.
I love Sarah Addison Allen’s books – Garden Spells and Sugar Queen took one day each to read because I couldn’t stop to take even a mini-break!
Glad you enjoyed this one as well!
Such fun and wonderful books. Thanks for stopping by!
I think I have this one… I liked Garden Spells too! Glad to know this one is good as well — sometimes lighthearted magical fluff is PERFECT.
Daphne! I was just thinking about you. You should go find this book – it is perfect as an escape book, methinks.
I still can’t believe I haven’t read any books by this author! Every review of her books make them sound so wonderful!
Amused, do you own any already? Would you like me to send you this one? Since you are my blog-buddy, and all.
I loved this book, too – Allen has such a magical way of writing. And reading this one made me hungry!