Scan barcode
blackgirlwhoreads's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed this book it was an amazing regency escapism. Although, the pacing in this book was off for me the characters were entertaining. This was my first book by Sula Sullivian and I can say that I will continue to follow her writing career .
hopeamarsu's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.25
cleansetolovers's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Sweet Nothings and Other Confections by Sula Sullivan
4/5
What a sweet surprise to wrap up #sapphicseptember!
Very Bridgeton by way of Willy Wonka, this regency-set tale of fake dating between a magical candy entrepreneur and an anxious artist was a pure confection.
Lucille is stuck in the Brittlebone School for Professional Ladies, forced to chose between becoming a governess or getting married, when she decides to talk her way into Lord Fondant’s estate for a chance to escape her current life and try to choose someone for herself. When she learns that Lord Fondant is actually Lady Fiona Fondant, a dapper butch with a winning smile and a blunt way of speaking, they agree to an apprentice and try to develop her artistic eye. As time goes on, the Candy making lessons begin to become less informative and more romantic, as the two try to push against their growing attraction, only to fall deeper in love.
Fiona and Lucille are rendered really beautifully, you can tell how much Sullivan loves these two. Special attention was taken for the depiction of Fiona’s chronic Illness, which is written in a very nuanced and candid way. For you hurt/comfort and caretaker trope fans, this one is full of moments that sing, without making Fiona helpless. Lucille is also given a sequence where Fiona caretakers for her, and they speak openly about Fiona’s fears of being seen as just her chronic illness which was lovely. And while not a complete closed door romance, the way Sullivan writes about their growing intimacy was wonderful, especially when Fiona was braiding Lucille’s hair, sheer perfection.
The world feels very it planted in a Cinderella (1997) meets Bridgerton world, which was inspired. Everything is magic infused, while feeling acutely of the regency period.
Small issues I had was the pacing, it was very languid until the end which felt rushed. Also quite a few typos that needed to be clarified, but these weren’t complete dealbreakers.
What a fun surprise from Kindle, worth checking out!
This is my 7th read for #23for23challenge
4/5
What a sweet surprise to wrap up #sapphicseptember!
Very Bridgeton by way of Willy Wonka, this regency-set tale of fake dating between a magical candy entrepreneur and an anxious artist was a pure confection.
Lucille is stuck in the Brittlebone School for Professional Ladies, forced to chose between becoming a governess or getting married, when she decides to talk her way into Lord Fondant’s estate for a chance to escape her current life and try to choose someone for herself. When she learns that Lord Fondant is actually Lady Fiona Fondant, a dapper butch with a winning smile and a blunt way of speaking, they agree to an apprentice and try to develop her artistic eye. As time goes on, the Candy making lessons begin to become less informative and more romantic, as the two try to push against their growing attraction, only to fall deeper in love.
Fiona and Lucille are rendered really beautifully, you can tell how much Sullivan loves these two. Special attention was taken for the depiction of Fiona’s chronic Illness, which is written in a very nuanced and candid way. For you hurt/comfort and caretaker trope fans, this one is full of moments that sing, without making Fiona helpless. Lucille is also given a sequence where Fiona caretakers for her, and they speak openly about Fiona’s fears of being seen as just her chronic illness which was lovely. And while not a complete closed door romance, the way Sullivan writes about their growing intimacy was wonderful, especially when Fiona was braiding Lucille’s hair, sheer perfection.
The world feels very it planted in a Cinderella (1997) meets Bridgerton world, which was inspired. Everything is magic infused, while feeling acutely of the regency period.
Small issues I had was the pacing, it was very languid until the end which felt rushed. Also quite a few typos that needed to be clarified, but these weren’t complete dealbreakers.
What a fun surprise from Kindle, worth checking out!
This is my 7th read for #23for23challenge
worthleyv's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
asiamd's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Sweet Nothings and Other Confections is a whimsical book about two women who both decide to fake date each other for their own personal reasons.
Now this is a lot going on in this book, but first let’s talk about what I liked. I absolutely adored the descriptions of the food that was being eaten in the book, since it is a book about a baker and artist, the food being so heavily described in the book really worked for me and actually made me hungry on some of the occasions that I was reading it. Another thing that I enjoyed in the book is how much of the baking process we got to see in the book and how the author successfully wove the FMC’s relationship growth into their cooking relationship as well. I also loved how the author effortlessly made sure to describe both of the main characters as black women! One last thing that I want to make sure to mention is the disability representation in the book. I feel that it is very well done and well written, it accurately depicts the pains of someone with a disability and allows for the FMC with the disability to be taken care of on her own terms and not treated like someone less than human( even though she is a magical creature in the book) I also loved that the author made sure to include how the FMC uses tools that help with her disability. Overall the descriptions of everything in the book was very well done and well thought out but that’s kinda where my liking of the book ends.
A lot of the things in the book that went wrong for me was the magical side. I feel like it was too many magical stories going on at once and it either felt rushed or forgotten throughout the story. For example, one of the FMC is something akin to a vampire, yet that doesn’t really get explored a lot on the book and only gets mentioned a handful of times and to me that’s not enough, then the idea with the house being made of different kinds of confections, and the gingerbread men being sentient but also eating each other at times, AND the house knowing also kinda being sentient as well! It was too much because in the story they just didn’t tie together well and they’re not properly explained enough for me to get immersed into the story.
Another problem that I found throughout the book was the attitude of one of the FMC’s, I felt as though her telling the other FMC to not be sensitive, even though she was being rude, was not a good indicator for a happy couple, and then later on in the story it seems like all the character growth goes out the window and she does it again! Lastly, the ending felt extremely abrupt, like I didn’t even know that the ending was coming kind of abrupt, which left way too many loose ends in the story for me. Overall, I loved the whimsical idea of the book and felt that with a better plot, it could’ve been really good but I just didn’t enjoy as much as I wanted to.
Now this is a lot going on in this book, but first let’s talk about what I liked. I absolutely adored the descriptions of the food that was being eaten in the book, since it is a book about a baker and artist, the food being so heavily described in the book really worked for me and actually made me hungry on some of the occasions that I was reading it. Another thing that I enjoyed in the book is how much of the baking process we got to see in the book and how the author successfully wove the FMC’s relationship growth into their cooking relationship as well. I also loved how the author effortlessly made sure to describe both of the main characters as black women! One last thing that I want to make sure to mention is the disability representation in the book. I feel that it is very well done and well written, it accurately depicts the pains of someone with a disability and allows for the FMC with the disability to be taken care of on her own terms and not treated like someone less than human( even though she is a magical creature in the book) I also loved that the author made sure to include how the FMC uses tools that help with her disability. Overall the descriptions of everything in the book was very well done and well thought out but that’s kinda where my liking of the book ends.
A lot of the things in the book that went wrong for me was the magical side. I feel like it was too many magical stories going on at once and it either felt rushed or forgotten throughout the story. For example, one of the FMC is something akin to a vampire, yet that doesn’t really get explored a lot on the book and only gets mentioned a handful of times and to me that’s not enough, then the idea with the house being made of different kinds of confections, and the gingerbread men being sentient but also eating each other at times, AND the house knowing also kinda being sentient as well! It was too much because in the story they just didn’t tie together well and they’re not properly explained enough for me to get immersed into the story.
Another problem that I found throughout the book was the attitude of one of the FMC’s, I felt as though her telling the other FMC to not be sensitive, even though she was being rude, was not a good indicator for a happy couple, and then later on in the story it seems like all the character growth goes out the window and she does it again! Lastly, the ending felt extremely abrupt, like I didn’t even know that the ending was coming kind of abrupt, which left way too many loose ends in the story for me. Overall, I loved the whimsical idea of the book and felt that with a better plot, it could’ve been really good but I just didn’t enjoy as much as I wanted to.
marybethlovesbooks's review
I had so many issues on how the girls couldn’t even respect each other and the whimsy just didn’t work for me in this one!!!
cameo's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sometimes sweets are the answer! Between decadent world building and the sweetest aftercare moments, I was smiling all the way through. This was exactly the cozy fantasy romance I wanted.
ruthie_narrates_books's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
I've loved all of the books this author has written, but this might be their best work yet. I loved the evocative elements of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. I always appreciate the authors approach to inclusive Regency, allowing the racialized and queer characters to just exist.
The addressing and navigating disability/chronic illness in a relationship really resonated with me. There were so many moments where I was reading and smiling just from the joy of the tale.
I dragged out reading this book because I didn't want it to end. I expect this will be a comfort read for many years to come!
The addressing and navigating disability/chronic illness in a relationship really resonated with me. There were so many moments where I was reading and smiling just from the joy of the tale.
I dragged out reading this book because I didn't want it to end. I expect this will be a comfort read for many years to come!
More...