Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Latest Review: The Sugar Queen

Goodreads Summary:
Twenty-seven-year-old Josey Cirrini is sure of three things: winter in her North Carolina hometown is her favorite season, she’s a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and sweets are best eaten in the privacy of her hidden closet. For while Josey has settled into an uneventful life in her mother’s house, her one consolation is the stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she escapes to each night…. Until she finds it harboring none other than local waitress Della Lee Baker, a tough-talking, tenderhearted woman who is one part nemesis—and two parts fairy godmother…

Fleeing a life of bad luck and big mistakes, Della Lee has decided Josey’s clandestine closet is the safest place to crash. In return she’s going to change Josey’s life—because, clearly, it is not the closet of a happy woman. With Della Lee’s tough love, Josey is soon forgoing pecan rolls and caramels, tapping into her startlingly keen feminine instincts, and finding her narrow existence quickly expanding.

Before long, Josey bonds with Chloe Finley, a young woman who makes the best sandwiches in town, is hounded by books that inexplicably appear whenever she needs them, and—most amazing of all—has a close connection to Josey’s longtime crush.

As little by little Josey dares to step outside herself, she discovers a world where the color red has astonishing power, passion can make eggs fry in their cartons, and romance can blossom at any time—even for her. It seems that Della Lee’s work is done, and it’s time for her to move on. But the truth about where she’s going, why she showed up in the first place—and what Chloe has to do with it all—is about to add one more unexpected chapter to Josey’ s fast-changing life.



My thoughts:
As is true with all Sarah Addison Allen novels, I loved this book! This story has a very fairy-tale feel to it which is magnificently magical!   

The characters and setting are fantastic as usual.  I could empathize easily with both Josie and Chloe.  I've had my shy (and plump) moments in life and experiencing Josie's painful insecurities just makes her all the more endearing.  Chloe, while quite different from Josie, is also easy to feel an affinity with due to her love of books.  This reading experience is not unlike slowly savoring a sweet treat...you enjoy every second of it and when it's over, you just want more! 

Recommended to:
  • Those who like magical realism books
  • Those who like slightly romantical fluffy reads
  • Those who can empathize with a shy and slightly overweight candy-lover
  • Those who enjoy fairy-tales
4/5 stars

6 comments:

  1. This is my favorite SAA book. So charming and enchanting. Great review:)

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  2. I'm not big on magical realism but I do like fairy tales. I might give this a try.

    I wanted to stop by and say welcome to What's in a Name 5 -- I hope you have fun with the new categories.

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  3. I love Sarah Addison Allen and this one looks wonderful. Thanks for the review, I can't wait to read it now!

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  4. 1) HOW DO I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS BOOK?

    2) I've never read anything by SAA. I'm ashamed, embarrassed, and crying.

    3) It's even set in NC and I didn't know about it, and I'm crying harder over this.

    4) I'm probably gonna bump some stuff BIG TIME and make some room for this one. I'm having palpitations like WHOA.

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  5. Isn't Sarah Addison Allen wonderful! I discovered her last year and haven't read this one. You've made me want to speed up my TBR pile next to the bed so I can add - just that one more..... :)

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  6. I keep saying that Garden Spells is my favorite SAA but the more time goes by, the more this one keeps creeping up. It's stuck with me better. She's just fantastic.

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