A Novel by Kimberly Stuart, Skyhorse Publishing, February 2017.
* An e-galley was provided by Skyhorse Publishing and Edelweiss for an honest review.
Sugar by Kimberly Stuart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love books that make me laugh out loud. I also adore books filled with witty banter and cute but flawed characters. SUGAR, by Kimberly Stuart, has all those ingredients and more.
OCD-like Charlie Garrett is a masterful pastry chef in a swanky NYC restaurant. She's been promised the top pastry job there for years. So she's kept her mouth shut and put up with the jerk in charge of pastries waiting for her dream job to open.
Avery Malachowski, Charlie's ex from their culinary school days nine plus years ago, tricks her into accepting the head pastry chef position at his new restaurant in Seattle. At first she's reluctant to leave NYC, but he wears her down. She's excited to finally be in the same town as her best friend, Manda, who is married with three young kids.
Manda Hendrick shines as the best friend. She's funny, cute and open as a mom and friend. She's the ying to Charlie's yang, preferring relaxed, lighthearted interaction with her family and friends to a frantic tunnel vision on her main focus (like Charlie). I particularly enjoyed her silly conversations with her husband and children.
In Seattle Charlie meets Kai Malloy, a progressive diner owner who is as laid back as his name suggests. He is good for Charlie and keeps her from taking herself too seriously. He cares a lot for Charlie, even when she's being rude and too focused on her work. He's all about trust and enjoying life, while she's all about work, work and more work.
Pros: The story contains lots of great zingers and laugh-out-loud banter. There are well-developed and enjoyable, flawed characters who grow throughout story. The author used humorous ways to address serious issues, such as trust, disappointment, and job satisfaction.
Cons: I would've liked to know more about how Charlie felt about moving to Seattle and back again to NYC. And I didn't always like Charlie. She seems a little too critical of people and events swirling around her. Thankfully she grows more likable as the story continues, and she learns to relax a bit. And though there is a satisfying ending, the story wraps up too quickly.
Overall Message: Relax and take time to enjoy life, don't be afraid to trust your friends, and don't discount your instincts.
If You Like This, You Might Like: OPERATION BONNET and ACT TWO by Kimberly Stuart, THE TOTAL PACKAGE by Stephanie Evanovich, MY (NOT SO) PERFECT LIFE by Sophie Kinsella, THE BOY IS BACK by Meg Cabot, ON SECOND THOUGHT by Kristan Higgins
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