TO READ
“The Sugar Queen”
By Sarah Addison Allen
Published by Bantam Books
Hardcover $22
In this magical follow-up to her New York Times bestselling debut, “Garden Spells,” author Sarah Addison Allen weaves a plot that pulls together three women in their 20s who are flinching at love and wishing for more.
The reader will form a familiarity with the characters much like those on the long running sitcoms like Friends. This book has the ability to make you laugh out loud and cry quietly.
The story takes place in the ski town of Bald Slope, N.C. It’s the kind of place where everybody knows everybody or they think they do. Old roles and southern traditions hold tight long after their usefulness are gone, in Bald Slope.
Twenty-seven year old Josey has chosen to live under the shadow of her mother, Margaret. Margaret. is infamously beautiful and widowed who treats the world as though all were placed on earth to serve her. Under her convincingly hard veneer, she is a lonely old woman who never knew her mother and was sold out by her father.
Josey’s father, an immigrant from Italy, built the snow lodge that made the town a success. His legacy and reputation are far reaching.
Josey keeps her pleasures of snacks and romance novels literally hidden in a secret place in her closet. When the rough young woman, Della Lee Baker, takes up residence in Josey’s closet, with wet hair still smelling of the river, it’s not clear who’s rescuing who.
Della Lee sends Josey to the courthouse sandwich shop for a tomato and cheese sandwich and a third friendship is formed with shop owner Chloe. Chloe gives and receives a little rescuing, too.
The character development is strong and many of the elements in this book serve as characters. Houses, cars, books and much more come alive, propelling the characters and the plot forward. The magic of books play a particularly pleasing role.
…
Sarah Addison Allen proves once more, she is able to write a book set in the South that avoids tired cliché’s.
“The Sugar Queen” has less literal magic than “Garden Spells” and is a faster read. It’s not a sequel in any way.
“Sugar Queen” is one of those books you tote around under your arm like a friend and feel reluctant when it’s time to put it down.
The reader is encouraged by the author page that reads:
Sarah Addison Allen was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, where she is currently at work on her next novel, which Bantam will publish in 2009.
I’ll be waiting.
