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bethantg's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
An interesting concept but unfortunately lacks insight — lots of themes broached, very few explored in much depth. I liked the relationships between Agnes and Marlena, but would have liked more on her relationships with her friends. The girls from the flat are introduced in a pretty one-dimensional way, which is clever in that it makes them easy to differentiate between, but disappointingly they stay like this throughout — even Emily and Yomawu, who I really think had a lot more potential for development.
The thing that sticks in my head is the bit about Agnes' Instagram account, since it was built up quite a bit and had no actual pay-off; this maybe would have been more worthwhile if Agnes and Jess' argument and relationship had been developed more, but instead Agnes just talks about feeling a bit miffed with Jess and then changes her mind, when her initial annoyance isn't really given any explanation either. She didn't seem annoyed, then said later that she was, then as I say she just changes her mind. There are lots of characters but even the main character lacks consistency and well-roundedness. It's very unfortunate as I think this book could have done something really interesting if it was just more fleshed-out and polished.
The writing was very easy to read for the most part, but was sometimes way too conversational. I will say that the visual descriptions were done really well — easy to picture without taking away from the story — so I could often be properly immersed in the setting. I just wish this was the same for the characters.
The writing was very easy to read for the most part, but was sometimes way too conversational. I will say that the visual descriptions were done really well — easy to picture without taking away from the story — so I could often be properly immersed in the setting. I just wish this was the same for the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Infidelity
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, and Racism
buer's review
challenging
dark
informative
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sugar, Baby is a poignant look at the highs and lows of "sugaring" or being a sugar baby told through the lens of a newbie to the trade: Agnes. When Emily is intrigued by Agnes' compulsive lying and beauty she plucks her out of her middle class life and introduces her to sugaring. What begins as free food and drinks, fancy lunches, and expensive gifts, quickly snowballs into increasingly sexual situations. Agnes quickly finds herself out of her depth, trying to figure out what her boundaries are and whether the price of sugaring is worth the payoff.
Celine Saintclaire is a great writer. Her prose is easy to read, snappy, and conversational. She easily explores the internal lives of a diverse set of girls who have all been drawn into sugaring for their own reasons. She paints complex characters who are lovable even when they're making horrible choices and highlights the romantic, beautiful aspects of sugaring before delving into its seedy underbelly. This is a perfectly paced book that does a great job of making the reader embody the emotions of the characters.
I would recommend this for people who like character-driven stories, sexy stuff, and a good old fashioned moral quandary.
Celine Saintclaire is a great writer. Her prose is easy to read, snappy, and conversational. She easily explores the internal lives of a diverse set of girls who have all been drawn into sugaring for their own reasons. She paints complex characters who are lovable even when they're making horrible choices and highlights the romantic, beautiful aspects of sugaring before delving into its seedy underbelly. This is a perfectly paced book that does a great job of making the reader embody the emotions of the characters.
I would recommend this for people who like character-driven stories, sexy stuff, and a good old fashioned moral quandary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexual content, and Drug use
damaso194's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I think this book is very sad. Very plot driven and sort of feels like the MC gets caught up in what’s happening but doesn’t have much development in her character? She emotionally is right back where she started at the end of the book- it’s a sad story to read but a good book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Drug use
cinderellasbookshelf's review against another edition
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.
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
Graphic: Sexual content
meganmustachebeard's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
Moderate: Sexual content
laurakfinnegan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
Minor: Body shaming
noshinbean's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Drug use, Sexual content, Infidelity, and Classism
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Cursing, and Abandonment
erynelle's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
+ a somewhat dark but fun and humorous account of a sugar baby’s experiences. Saintclare exposes the realities of seemingly glamorous lives, as well as the fact that, at the end of the day, sugaring is sex work and it can take a toll.
+ I like that Saintclare chose to focus on the relationships between the sugar babies, and the importance they had in each others lives.
+ I like that Saintclare chose to focus on the relationships between the sugar babies, and the importance they had in each others lives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship
taremeredzwatchirewa's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Drug use
Minor: Sexual assault
arireadsitall's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It’s euphoria meets the hop with a little coming of it. Agnes was your typical naive girl looking for something more and well she got it!! I was hooked from the first chapter. Under 300 pages and hard to put down!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Drug use