Reviews

the possibility of this being something fresh and different was promising at first but it quickly veered onto a predictable path. i thought there would at least be some commentary on race and sex since agnes’ race is mentioned right in the synopsis, but that aspect was barely explored. instead it was the elements of trauma, confusion, family, and religion that i was already expecting—and those elements would have still be fine to include and explore, but i was hoping for an even deeper dive into agnes’ character.

still entertaining though and a beautiful cover.

thenycbookwhore69's review against another edition

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4.75

I loved this book and Agnes so much. This book was amazing to read, I have so many thoughts on sugaring/sex works, religious shame, Agnes' journey on self discovery and exploration..... amazing debut for Celine!!!

literarycrushes's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Sugar, Baby perfectly captures the feeling of going out on a Friday night in your early twenties, from the glee of getting ready with your friends to that never-to-be-satisfied anticipation that always leaves you feeling a little empty the next morning (not to mention the hangovers).

I picked up Sugar, Baby after listening to the author, Celine Saintclare, on the Debutful podcast, and I wasn’t disappointed. Agnes Green is 21, living in ‘The Wastelands’ (dreary London suburbs) with her uber-religious, uber-strict, Caribbean mother Constance. Despite the confines of her living situation (no makeup, no alcohol, and don’t even think about boys), Agnes has become a pro at living a double life, frequently going from getting trashed at the local pub on Saturday night to being in church at 9 am on Sunday morning (something you can only do in your 20s). She’s working as a cleaner in a neighboring wealthy suburb, and while she wants more out of life, she’s not especially proactive about getting it. So, when Emily, the daughter of one of Agnes’s clients and a professional sugar baby (who is described more than once as resembling Margot Robbie), approaches her with a proposition: she’s writing a book on how to get men to do & give you anything you want and needs a fresh, malleable girl to be her guinea pig, Agnes immediately agrees.

With wide eyes, Agnes enters the glamorous world of London nightclubs, designer shopping sprees, and fancy lunches for profit quite seamlessly. If she feels trepidation over her morals and her turbulent sense of self-worth, she still manages to remain steadily herself without judgment. Overall, the book was a little uneven, and I found myself significantly more invested in the first half of the novel than the latter, but it was generally a fun and not too self-serious read!

therealjessicaaustin_2002's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

cinderellasbookshelf's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I picked this up from the library after seeing it on Aardvark Book Club. It’s a pretty compelling read that I didn’t want to put down.

It’s more about identity and that self-journey in your twenties of figuring out who you are and what you want, while going through some pretty wild events than what the title may suggest though the premise in it is there. The connection to Saint Agnes and religion was also interesting.

Content Warnings

makennedy22's review against another edition

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challenging dark medium-paced

4.0

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