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The sugar queen
341 pages
A cozy, magical confection of a novel about stepping out of hiding and tasting the sweetness of real life.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket on a snowy day with a hidden stash of your favorite sweets. It unfolds at a steady, comforting pace, inviting you into a world where magic is just a part of the everyday—where books appear exactly when you need them and peppermint has the power to soothe the soul. The prose is rich with sensory details, making you practically taste the caramels and feel the chill of the North Carolina winter. It is a deeply empathetic and whimsical experience, balancing the weight of toxic family dynamics with the uplifting power of female friendship. This is a story for anyone who has ever felt the need to hide away, offering a gentle, enchanting nudge to step out of the shadows and into a vibrant, colorful life.
- Mood
- cozy
- enchanting
- comforting
- sweet
- Tone
- warm
- whimsical
- empathetic
- hopeful
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- finding one's voice · everyday magic · healing through friendship · complicated family dynamics · the comfort of food and books
- The writing
- The writing is sensory and lyrical, weaving gentle magical realism seamlessly into the fabric of everyday Southern life.
- The arc
- The journey shifts from a place of stifled isolation and hidden shame to a vibrant, open-hearted embrace of life and love.
- Who it's for
- Perfect for readers who crave cozy, character-driven stories where a touch of magic helps heal deep emotional wounds.
Content notes
- toxic parent-child relationship
- past trauma
- grief
About the book
In this irresistible follow-up to her debut, Garden Spells, author Sarah Addison Allen tells the tale of a young woman whose family secrets--and secret passions--are about to change her life forever.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.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.From the Hardcover edition.
Description from Open Library.
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