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duck1e's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Reading this book as a diabetic (type 2 in my case) is so incredibly impactful.
The mc Persephone is absolutely spiralling, thinking she deserves her diabetes and doesn’t take care of herself as a result. She’s a grieving, angry, chronically ill 16 year old, with all the complications that go along with it.
I can’t really put into words how this book made me feel except that it was essential. Impactful. Gut-wrenching. I cried. Five stars.
My favourite book of the year so far.
The mc Persephone is absolutely spiralling, thinking she deserves her diabetes and doesn’t take care of herself as a result. She’s a grieving, angry, chronically ill 16 year old, with all the complications that go along with it.
I can’t really put into words how this book made me feel except that it was essential. Impactful. Gut-wrenching. I cried. Five stars.
My favourite book of the year so far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Vomit, Grief, Self harm, Death of parent, Medical content, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Ableism, Dementia, Abandonment, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cursing, Gun violence, and Cancer
weirdfi's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
3 & 1/2 stars.
~~~
I won a copy through Text Publishing.
It's a stunning cover, though does feel a different vibe from the book a little I think.
I would not usually do trigger warnings, but I think you do need to be aware of a few as the writing is first person mostly and very visercal and real. I felt a bit faint at times.
+
+
+
needles, blood descriptions, medical issues, cancer, sex, death
+
+
+
It felt very Aussie outback and I could picture some scenes clearly, whilst a few others I wouldn't have had as much experience imagining. If you don't like your protagonists angry and moody this may not be for you. I felt I managed to push on because she's a teenager and there's been some pretty big changes she is still adjusting to. And of course, everyone reacts differently as individuals.
For it's size, I just recommend it for how many topics it managed to cover without it feeling rushed. It almost was slow and sedate for the build up to the end.
~~~
I won a copy through Text Publishing.
It's a stunning cover, though does feel a different vibe from the book a little I think.
I would not usually do trigger warnings, but I think you do need to be aware of a few as the writing is first person mostly and very visercal and real. I felt a bit faint at times.
+
+
+
needles, blood descriptions, medical issues, cancer, sex, death
+
+
+
It felt very Aussie outback and I could picture some scenes clearly, whilst a few others I wouldn't have had as much experience imagining. If you don't like your protagonists angry and moody this may not be for you. I felt I managed to push on because she's a teenager and there's been some pretty big changes she is still adjusting to. And of course, everyone reacts differently as individuals.
For it's size, I just recommend it for how many topics it managed to cover without it feeling rushed. It almost was slow and sedate for the build up to the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Death, Sexual content, Medical content, Alcohol, Blood, Cancer, Car accident, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
aztlan's review against another edition
dark
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Sugar follows a diabetic 16 year old girl, Persephone, who lives in a small community in the Australian bush. I initially picked it up because I saw the cover at the bookstore and absolutely adored it, and reading the synopsis also sounded like something I'd enjoy.
The first thing I noticed was the uniqueness of the narrator's voice. Persephone makes lists about people, and associates imagery with words (often saying things such as "Search ______: There's me."). Personally, I really loved this, it's something that really helps me feel like I know who a character is, and to connect to them. However, I actually found Persephone very unlikable. She is self-destructive and obstinate, and while I understand why, I didn't really feel like she had any qualities to redeem her for the majority of the book. The novel does follow her as she attempts to reconcile a stranger's death with their life, and in the process is forced to reflect on her own life and attitude. This led her to grow into a character who I think I would like, given more time.
I liked how this was a mystery around death, but did not focus on the cause of the death, but rather on Persephone's perception that there was another reason why she died. This was a more unique mystery to read, and I liked how the rest of the world was forgotten by Persephone, but not by the author, as she got increasingly absorbed. The rest of the world keeps turning, and Persephone is forced to come to terms with her realities as the book progresses.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I thought it was an interesting perspective, and I particularly enjoyed Carly Nugent's writing style.
The first thing I noticed was the uniqueness of the narrator's voice. Persephone makes lists about people, and associates imagery with words (often saying things such as "Search ______: There's me."). Personally, I really loved this, it's something that really helps me feel like I know who a character is, and to connect to them. However, I actually found Persephone very unlikable. She is self-destructive and obstinate, and while I understand why, I didn't really feel like she had any qualities to redeem her for the majority of the book. The novel does follow her as she attempts to reconcile a stranger's death with their life, and in the process is forced to reflect on her own life and attitude. This led her to grow into a character who I think I would like, given more time.
I liked how this was a mystery around death, but did not focus on the cause of the death, but rather on Persephone's perception that there was another reason why she died. This was a more unique mystery to read, and I liked how the rest of the world was forgotten by Persephone, but not by the author, as she got increasingly absorbed. The rest of the world keeps turning, and Persephone is forced to come to terms with her realities as the book progresses.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I thought it was an interesting perspective, and I particularly enjoyed Carly Nugent's writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Physical abuse
Minor: Medical content
laurxndxx's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley, Carly Nugent and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Persephone, the protagonist, is full of grief and anger and does not know how to control it in a healthy way. However, her biggest emotion is guilt due to blaming herself for her Dad's death. The night of his funeral she receives a diabetes diagnosis and immediately takes it as a sign she's being punished. Persephone is written in a way that made me want to root for her to feel better throughout. It is not until she finds the body of a young woman and delves into her life, that she hits rock bottom and unknowingly begins the healing process. Overall I love that she's a flawed, but loveable and relatable character. I also love the inclusion of information about diabetes and how well it integrated into the story.
Persephone, the protagonist, is full of grief and anger and does not know how to control it in a healthy way. However, her biggest emotion is guilt due to blaming herself for her Dad's death. The night of his funeral she receives a diabetes diagnosis and immediately takes it as a sign she's being punished. Persephone is written in a way that made me want to root for her to feel better throughout. It is not until she finds the body of a young woman and delves into her life, that she hits rock bottom and unknowingly begins the healing process. Overall I love that she's a flawed, but loveable and relatable character. I also love the inclusion of information about diabetes and how well it integrated into the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Addiction, Blood, Gaslighting, Gore, Medical content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, and Physical abuse
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