Thursday 15 March 2012

Review: The Sugar Queen - Sarah Addison Allen

Josey Cirrini is sure of three things: winter is her favorite season, she’s a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and sweets are best eaten in the privacy of her 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 her closet harboring Della Lee Baker, a local waitress who is one part nemesis—and two parts fairy godmother. With Della Lee’s tough love, Josey’s narrow existence quickly expands. She even bonds with Chloe Finley, a young woman who is hounded by books that inexplicably appear when she needs them—and who has a close connection to Josey’s longtime crush. Soon Josey is living in a world where the color red has startling powers, and passion can make eggs fry in their cartons. And that’s just for starters.

Brimming with warmth, wit, and a sprinkling of magic, here is a spellbinding tale of friendship, love—and the enchanting possibilities of every new day.

Genre: Fiction/Magical realism, Pages: 294, Published: 2009, Publisher: Bantam, Source: My own


My thoughts:
I had heard good things about her books, and I do like magical realism so I thought why not. And now, now I think, why not sooner!?

This was a wonderful light book, I could not put it down. It had everything it should have, a bit of magic that seemed so real. Books that follow someone around. Light and warmth and a bit of a fairytale over it all. Josey is a bit like Rapunzel, she is stuck in her house, guarded by her mother. But she lets her hair down and starts to live.

I liked Josey, she tries her best with her mother. But they are not happy together. Instead Josey hoards candy and romance novels. She has no life. Until a fairygodmother, in the form of a woman on the run from a man, shows up in her closet. Della gives her the push she needs and it was a joy to see Josey try new things and get away from the darkness that is her mother.

She also make a new friend, make that only friend, Chloe. Another woman with man trouble, and of course, a strange habit of collecting books that just shows up. Something I loved because I am a booklover, and to have books just show up? Yes please. And these two women are good for each other. A growing friendship is on the way.

Of course we have a sprinkle of romance too which again warms my heart. This princess needs that.

In the end it was just perfect, just like I want my magical realism fiction to be. It was also a different sort of Southern book, since there is a ski resort on the mountains, and that gave it another sort of flavor.

Conclusion:
Yes I want more by this author and I also recommend this book.

Cover:
I do not like it

56 comments:

  1. Heart warming romances are always a pleasure to indulge in. Thanks for the rec, I don't think I'd heard of this book before.

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    1. It was such a delight to read :) I do need more books like it

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  2. Oh I am so glad you got to read this. This is one of my favourite books. EVER!

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    1. All thanks to you :D You like her books and I just had to try one

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  3. This book does sound delightful! I need to get to it too!

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  4. This one has been on my tbr list for awhile, now I think I need to get to it asap. Great review!

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    1. Yes you do need to read it soon :D Too lovely to just sit there in your pile

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  5. A nice book - I am glad you liked it so much! I might be tempted.

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    1. Might be, ohhh, you should be ;)

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    2. I used to be so certain but now I am not sure...;p

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  6. This sounds so fun! I can't wait to read it too.

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    1. I am sure, well I hope ;), that you will like it too

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  7. I hadn't heard of this one before but now am excited to read it. Thanks!

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  8. I just got this one the other day. Since I own it's going to be hard to make me read it. Books with due dates always get priority!

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    1. I know about that! So freaking hard to read your own books

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  9. I've got a couple of this author's books because I've heard great things about her work too. It sounds like all those great things are true!

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    1. Ohh a couple! Lucky you :D I so want more books by her now

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  10. I love the cover art and the story sounds very heartwarming :)

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  11. The Sugar Queen was my first Sarah Addison Allen book too! I'm glad you enjoyed it! By the way, I just bought The Peach Keeper. Can't wait!

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    1. Lucky you :) I do need more books by her but my wishlist is so freaking long

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  12. I have this author on mt tbr list. She almost reminds me of Alice Hoffman. This book sounds great!

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    1. I do hope you read a book by her soon :) And I hope I do too, lol

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  13. I have loved her other books for exactly the same reason! Such a great world! I haven't read this one and it just went on my wishlist!

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    1. You haven't? Well then I am sure you will love this one too since you have read other books by her

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  14. Is it Friday yet>?!?!?!?

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  15. My fav book of hers is the Peach Keeper. Lovely review!

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  16. This sounds like a nice, sweet story. It's nice to read a few of those from time to time.

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    1. I do love it. Sure there was tension but the overall tone was still sweet and hopeful

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  17. I've heard so much about this author and this particular book. I really need to read it already. It sounds great.

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    1. I am sure you would like it as much as I did :)

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  18. Oh wow! Sounds like a wonderful read, and to see you enjoyed it so. Thanks!!

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    1. It's good with a light sweet book now and again :D Just what I needed

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  19. I love Sarah Addison Allen's books for exactly the reasons you said. They are perfect when you want something that leads you feel good when you finish it, that can be read in one setting and leave you wanting more!

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    1. It's a cliche but the pages just flew by :) Easy and sweet and just what I wanted. I am so happy that I finally read a book by her

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  20. awwwwwwww I really want to read this. This sounds adorable. :)

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  21. My kind of adorable read! It sounds like a must have for me---my bank account does not thank you LOL

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  22. I really, really need to give this author a try. I've heard nothing but good things about her. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed this one so much!

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    1. Yes you must try one of her books! She is just a wonderful writer

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  23. I agree with you about the cover... it does not ping my buying radar...

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  24. I hadn't really expected to want to read this one, but your review changed my mind. It sounds fantastic! Great review!

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    1. Yay, I am glad it did cos this was a pearl

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    2. Yes, this was a good one! I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did (magic realism was ruined for me by high school English class), but I did.

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  25. I loved this one...not my favorite, that would be Garden Spells, but pretty much everything she writes is wonderful. Glad that you finally read her! Yay!!

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    1. YAY! :D I am glad I finally read her too. it sure took me a while. And I really need to read more

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  26. I can't wait to read this one but like Staci I loved Garden Spells. Hope you get to it soon!

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  27. So glad you enjoyed it! I love all of Sarah Addison Allen's books, but Garden Spells is probably my favorite.

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