NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this irresistible novel, Sarah Addison Allen, author of the bestselling debut, Garden Spells, tells the tale of a young woman whose family secrets—and secret passions—are about to change her life forever. 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 … 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.
Praise for The Sugar Queen
“Like the most decadently addictive bonbons, once started, Allen’s magically entrancing novel is impossible to put down.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Bewitching . . . Such a pleasurable book.”—Publishers Weekly
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This is one of my favorite books. I love the way sweets are weaved into the story. I love the characters and how much I adore them so quickly. I love the way this story unfolds in ways I didn’t expect! If you’re looking for a fun, entertaining, and thoroughly enjoyable story, this is it!
This sweet book, The Sugar Queen, by Sarah Addison Allen reminds me of Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (Which I love). The quirky, engaging characters of The Sugar Queen become friends I’d like to meet.
I actually miss the characters now that I’ve finished the book.
It is difficult to pigeon-hole Sarah’s books. I think spell-binding is a good adjective because I get caught-up in her characters’ world. The words sweep me along in a different way of thinking that is other-worldly and somewhat magical. There is always at least on surprise in all of her stories. I recommend them to everyone I know for a “taste of something different” if you want to be transported into a plane above where most live.
“A little bit of mystery and a little bit of magic, similar to the writing of Sarah Addison Allen. Personal redemption is a favorite theme of mine, so I loved this book.” That is a quote from a review I received on my novel, Tangled, a Southern Gothic Yarn. I had never read Sarah Addison Allen, so I had to check her out. The first novel I read was Garden Spells, because I like to garden, so I figured it would be interesting. It was, so when I saw an ad for the Sugar Queen I had to read it also. I’m hooked. There is dysfunction, humor, fantasy and magic in Addison Allen’s stories. If you like contemporary women’s fiction, you will probably like these novels.
In the Sugar Queen, Josey finds a reformed prostitute, Della Lee Barker hiding in her closet. Della Lee is a hot mess, but begs Josey to tell no one where she is. Josey Cirrini and her mother, Margaret, are prominent citizens in their ski resort community, Bald Slope. Other than Margaret, their live-in maid, Helena,
is the only other person Josey sees and communicates with until Della Lee. She does have a crush on the mailman, Adam, but other than putting on her favorite red sweater when he delivers the mail, Josey doesn’t communicate her interest. Things begin to change when Della Lee sends Josey on a series of errands for her outside of the Cirrini’s Victorian mansion. Josey begins to develop relationships beyond her demanding mother.
Chloe, a young woman about Josey’s age, becomes a good friend. Josey discovers she is recently estranged from her boyfriend who is the best friend of Adam, the Cirrini’s mailman. Then Chloe begins to confide in Julian, Della Lee’s live-in boyfriend, and the unraveling of mysteries begins.
The characters are the drivers of the story and each one is unique and believable, even the craziest, and Addison Allen has unique characters. You find yourself cheering for them and sure enough, they are going to be okay. These are light reads, but page turners and filled with wit. I will read more by this author and highly recommend.
I recently read both , The Sugar Queen and Queen Sugar, loved them both. These are books anyone would enjoy.
Sarah Addison Allen is so good.
A lyrical tale woven with magical realism connecting three women with their own self worth, giving them insight and strength to meet the challenges in their lives. The characters are touching as are their situations. Admittedly strange to have a fairy godmother type living in one’s closet, but it worked for me. I also loved that books appeared to the girls just as they were needed—what I wouldn’t give to have that treat in real life! I loved every magical page.
The Sugar Queen is in my top five favorite books. I’ve read it several times– most recently on a plane to a from a wedding. It’s magical realism done right. I love getting lost in this story.
This was my first Sarah Addison Allen book, many years ago. Beautiful and haunting and masterfully woven tale with just enough happily-ever-after to make it uplifting, without being maudlin.
Reading Ms. Allen’s work always feels like coming home. A little touch of magic, female characters I can relate with and a wonderful setting in the South. That books seek a character out in this novel (though I was disappointed she wasn’t reading them!) hit home because I do believe books seek you out just when you need them…
This was the first one of Sarah’s books and I loved it and couldn’t put it down. I found myself searching out all her others and my sister felt the same way when she read them.
Just beautiful! My first time reading Sarah Addison Allen. I will look for and read every book she has written. Have not enjoyed a reading a new author in a while. Nice surprise.
Loved it!
I have fallen in love with Sarah Addison Allen’s writing. Descriptive and pulls you in.
What can you say…this is a Sarah Addison Allen book, a phenomenal writer who’s imagination leaves you begging for the story to never stop. Once you start this book you won’t be able to put is down and the ending will totally surprise you. All of her books are a must read. Please Ms Allen release another book
Magical!
How I love Sarah Addison Allen after reading GARDEN SPELLS. Why, then, did it take me so long to get back to her? I’ve no idea.
I am glad that I finally found her in audio format so that I could listen to the story of Josey, Della Lee, Chloe, Adam….Funny, sweet, sad, a perfect mixture especially for someone like me who rarely wanders outside the mystery or paranormal genres. Southern fiction with a hint of mystic.
So very glad that I have this in handheld form on the keeper shelf.
Perfect.
I love all of Sarah Addison Allen’s books
so charming.