By Julie Sara Porter, Bookworm Reviews
Spoilers: The Sugar Queen is one of those books that's not for the cynical of heart. It's drenched in strange sweet little magical touches that bring a smile to the Reader's face: touches such as books that appear out of nowhere, favorite clothing that inspire romance, and advice from a very unusual woman that suggests one thing but lead to deeper resolutions. When all of this is done, the Reader is left with some sweet memories and a happy ending.
The very unusual woman with odd advice is Della Lee Baker, a tough talking waitress who arrives inside the closet of heiress, Josey Cirrini. Josey is naturally confused about why Della Lee is hiding inside her closet, reading Josey's carefully hidden romance paperback novels and indulging herself in Josey's hidden candies and chocolate snacks. After Della Lee explains she is on the run from her abusive boyfriend, she decides to make Josey into her personal project by giving her advice to make friends, have romance, an independent life, and to improve herself.
Josey is at first reluctant to follow Della Lee's advice and scoffs at her with some clever repartee ("I hear the closets at the Holiday Inn are fabulous. You should try them. "). But she also realizes that she could use some help.
At 27 years old, Josey feels metaphorically imprisoned by Margaret, a verbally abusive mother. Margaret wants to control every aspect of her life such as her clothing (Margaret insists that she should never wear red "because she looks horrible in it" even though it's Josey's favorite color), her weight and reading interests (Hence the hidden romance novels and snacks. Margaret thinks of her daughter as a fat daydreamer.), and her schedule. (She must always be on hand to chauffeur her mother around to her "emergency appointments" like trips to the manicurists, tea parties, weekly social events, etc.).
Josey also suffers from the reputation of her late father, Marco Cirrini, the man who built her hometown of Bald Slope, North Carolina and has an almost demi-god reputation of many who thought he could do no wrong (Though many women who had been at the opposite ends of his philandering would argue with that assessment.). When her father was alive, Josey was given to temper tantrums people still remember and call Josey to task on them even though they were over twenty years ago. This reputation causes Josey to retreat further into herself so any assertiveness could never be mistaken as a spoiled childish tantrum.
Because of her reputation as a once spoiled brat of a charming philandering father and an emotionally abusive Southern Belle mother, it is no wonder Josey needs all the help she can get. Thanks to Della Lee's influence, Josey begins to wear her favorite red sweater which draws Adam, the handsome mail carrier whom she long admired from afar. The two start to talk, resulting in a date.
Many Readers with parental problems and extremely introverted but longing personalities can understand Josey's growing frustration with her family, subtle acts of rebellion, and desire to escape. Maybe some Readers long for someone to come along and help shake them out of their dull complacent lives as Della Lee does for Josey. The two make for a wonderful team as Josey provides shelter from Della Lee's problems and Della Lee gives Josey a way out of hers.
Another chatacter who glows because of the friendship between Della Lee and Josey, is Chloe Finley, a diner waitress. Chloe has problems of her own, some typical one not so typical. Her typical problems consist of a long -time boyfriend who confessed to an affair and now wants to get back together, an attraction to a handsome but dangerous man whom Della Lee knows personally, and her desire to buy a specific dream house but little money to purchase it.
Chloe's not so typical problem would no doubt make her the envy of her Readers. Books follow her everywhere she goes. They appear out of thin air, newly made, usually when Chloe is at an emotional crossroads. The books pertain to whatever predicament that Chloe is in. After a fight with Chloe's boyfriend, Jake, a book appears titled Finding Forgiveness. After consulting with the home owners of her dream house, another book arrives: The Complete Home Owner's Guide.
Books appear as a conscience to Chloe giving advice to her, as Della Lee does for Josey. Sometimes Chloe is annoyed by their presence ("I said go away, " Chloe yells at one of her books in Josey's presence.) But Chloe's relationship with her books, as well as her new friendship with Josey, points to potential solutions to her predicaments.
Josey, Della Lee, and Chloe are a terrific trio of protagonists that become closer because of some interesting revelations that seem to come out of nowhere, but make sense the more the book continues as the Reader learns about the characters and their relationships.
The Sugar Queen is sweet, sugary, and filled with magic found in every day life, magic of reading, color, romance, and friendship. This is the type of book that goes down like fine candy, good to the last bite.
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