A review by serendipitysbooks
Sugar by Bernice L. McFadden

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

 Sugar was a fabulous read. The opening section was gripping if horrifying, and had me immediately invested in the story. The writing was superb. The scene when Sugar strode into town, larger than life and totally confident in herself while the respectable ladies spied from behind their curtains, delighted to be scandalised and have something to gossip about was so vividly drawn that reading it was like watching the scene unfold on a large movie screen. In Pearl and Sugar the author not only created two really memorable female characters, but also constructed a friendship between them that was strong and believable, despite their obvious differences. The plot had plenty of interest - the connections between Sugar and Pearl’s husband Joe, and between Sugar and their murdered daughter Jude, plus the way Sugar helped Pearl break out of her shell all stood out for me. I also loved the way the author explored the idea of female respectability especially the difference between outward respectability and actual goodness. This was my first book by Bernice McFadden but it certainly won’t be my last. 
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