The story is set in the southern US in the 1940s and early 1950s, and the main characters are a mother who lost her daughter and a young lady from a broken family who has to survive by selling herself. The story is well-written and engaging with rich descriptions. I felt that the ending was rushed and left the characters in limbo. I would have liked to have seen some resolutions in the murder of the daughter.

Great listen, historical, atmospheric, with all the warmth of a family saga.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me listen to the audiobook in exchange for my honest feedback.

A wonderfully written and powerful novel. Exploring a number of difficult subjects the story is an open and brutally honest depiction of the reality of loss, grief, and forgiveness in the darkest of situations. A tender telling of two women who form an unlikely friendship in the hardest of times.

All I can say is thank you, thank you, and THANK YOU to @vintagebooks for offering to send me a copy of this, because I may not have known about it or picked it up otherwise, and that would be a crying shame!

Beginning in 1940s Bigelow, a small town in the American south, this novel opens to a horrifying act committed against a young black girl, which leaves the community, and especially her parents, Pearl and Joe, reeling. It’s only a decade later, when prostitute Sugar walks into their lives, that Pearl finally begins to feel like herself again, seeing so much of her daughter in Sugar. Whilst this friendship between prostitute and devout churchgoer may seem unexpected, it might just save both their lives…

This was such a powerful novel of forgiveness, grief and acceptance set in one of history’s most difficult times, and yet despite all the heartache and horror of it, it was also filled with so much joy. The unlikely friendship between Pearl and Sugar just brought a real lightness to my heart, and what amazed me even more were the unexpected twists and turns the story took - I expected it to be a quiet, redemptive story of friendship and yet it held some real shocks too!

Whilst race did play a part in the story, as you’d expect with the period it was set in, there was far more judgement and hatred about Sugar’s job from the close knit community of Bigelow than anything else. But I loved Sugar - she could give it straight back to them, and we uncover so much more about her complicated background throughout the story. It’s as if the two women are exactly what the other needed in that time and place, and it’s just a beautiful story to bear witness to.

I just loved every second of this (apart from the brutal beginning, so be warned!). It was so compelling and moving, and I just know it’s one I’ll remember for a long time. Great audio narration too!

This is such a stunning audiobook.
The narrator nails the characters and kept me hooked from the first chapter until the last.
The story is such a heartwarming one, in which I grew to love Sugar and really care about what happened to her. Her character arc was really satisfying and I love her links and friendships with some of the other characters.
Hard hitting, graphic in places, this is not a book I'm likely to forget quickly. In fact, it's a book I'll absolutely listen to again as I found it so enjoyable and absorbing. I'm really glad we found out more of her past as the book went on as it helped me to understand where Sugar has come from and the challenges she has faced. Would really recommend!

When Sugar strolls into Bigelow, the residents, especially the women of the small Southern town, are in uproar at her dress and manners. Except for one woman, her much older neighbour Pearl, who is unmoved by the gossip of her peers and only wishes to bring Sugar to the lord as prescribed by her Reverend.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
This is a beautifully written and moving story, full of drama and intrigue. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
It begins with a horrific tragedy that befalls one of the residents nearly a decade and a half before - never resolved - an event that cannot easily be shaken off, and consequences of which will ricochet through the book. Then there are the secrets and hypocrisies of living in a small community. I wonder if communities like this still exist anymore, faith-based and closed knit as this is. Yet, despite the period it's set in, there's a timelessness in the way it vibrantly comes to life.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I love that Sugar is the outlier, the naked by the window neighbour, full of unashamed and hard-won confidence in her body and profession, although society pushes her into sex work. A woman who has experienced immeasurable loss, abuse and abandonment from childhood, and is looking for a fresh start. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
There's comfort in the writing style and language enveloping you, despite the trauma that some of the characters experience. I love the character work here so many of these complex, from Sugar to Pearl to Joe. I love the friendship struck up between Pearl and Sugar despite being near-polar opposites and aeons apart in age, and how each finds something to learn from the other - Sugar to allow herself to be nurtured, and Pearl rediscovering her sensuality. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
It's a compelling and propulsive read, one that also shines a light on Black life in an era in US history.

Sugar was my first book by Bernice L. McFadden read and I must say it was an incredible introduction to this author. I listened to it as an audiobook and loved the narration by Myra Lucretia Taylor.

It’s set in Bigelow Alabama at the height of the Jim Crow era and starts with the horrific murder and mutilation of a young Black girl which is incredibly difficult to read.
The book then skips forward 15 years to the 1950s when a sex worker Sugar Lacey moves into the town as causes ripples amongst the local community who are up in arms. She immediately comes to the attention of her neighbour Pearl a church-going lady in the town as she reminds her so much of her daughter Jude, the girl who had been so brutally murdered and for whom life had shut down at that point.

The story of their unlikely friendship is the core theme of this book with Sugar filling the void of her lost daughter to Pearl and Pearl filling the void of her missing mother for Sugar. The entire town is watching and gossiping as the between these two women bond forms over the sweet potato pie and make-overs. I absolutely adored the relationship between the two women and how they rediscovered the meaning of life through this bond. My only small gripe had been that there were questions unanswered at the end but then I realised there is a second book in the series which is one I definitely need to read now.
Massive thank you to @Netgalley and @penguinrandomhouseukaudio for this ARC

Sugar by Bernice McFadden
Narrated by Myra Lucretia Taylor
Listening time-8hrs 44 minutes
I give this audiobook 4.stars


Young and confident, with a swagger in her step, Sugar arrives in the southern town of Bigelow hoping to start over. Soon Bigelow is alight with gossip and suspicion, and Sugar fears her past is catching up with her. Then she meets Pearl, a woman trying to forget her own traumas. As these next-door neighbours become unlikely friends, they wonder if their lives could finally be changing for the better. But small towns have long memories...

It took me a while to get into this BUT but lm so glad l did.Such a heartwarming and emotional audiobook.A story that weaves and flows with a bond that develops between 2 women who seemingly have nothing in common.Love (good and bad) secrets and heartache with such beautiful character development.The narrater made me feel like l was there and living the experience with Pearl and Sugar!
With thanks to Netgalley,Bernice McFadden and Penguin Random House UK Audio, Vintage Digital for my chance to listen and review.

A story of unconventional friendship born from trauma and heartache. A joy of an audiobook beautifully narrated

Sometimes harrowing story of an unlikely friendship between neighbours. Both women have lived through their own trauma, pain and angst. Sugar lost a mother and Pearl lost a daughter, so there is a natural pull despite a nosey and interfering neighbourhood. The author writes really well and develops the characters and their history superbly, There are some acts of violence and racist victimisation which leaves you feeling angry however that is very much part of the developing story. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

Oh my, what a joy this book was to listen to. I feel awakened to the beauty of Bernice McFadden's writing. She has written a beautiful story of friendship, womanhood love forgiveness and acceptance. Myra Lucretia Taylor narrates this story with poise and grace held my attention throughout. I didn't quite know what to expect from Sugar Lacey but boy has she firmly won a piece of my heart. I am very much looking forward to reading/listening to more in the series.

It's time for me to spread the word on this book! An absolute delight of a read and fine example of 1950's American historical fiction.

Thank you to Penguin Audio and Netgalley for my review copy in response for my honest review.

This was a startlingly beautiful story of two women, Sugar and Pearl, who become neighbours. Both have haunted pasts and become friends despite that. Having lost their respective mother and daughter they start to fill these roles. I noticed when I added this to goodreads there is a second book and I hope this is being produced as an audiobook as well. I'd love to listen to the follow-up as this was so beautifully told. Great narration of this story.

This is a powerful story about the friendship of two women set in the 1950s Alabama. My review is on the audiobook version and the narrator did a great job making it even more enjoyable. Beautifully written, would recommend.

This book was quite eye opening. The views of Sugar actually made me stop and think- women should have been treated better. The story that twists round itself is well developed and the characters were really well described. I listened to this as an audio book and found the narrators voices really helped build the characters.
I was moved emotionally by Sugars story, her life was not an easy one. The adult content was quite shocking, but there were also parts of the story that made me smile. This book was very different to my usual type of book, but I really enjoyed the story it told.

Set around 1955 in Alabama. A Southern read which I love. I listened to this on audio and loved the dialogue and accents.

Pearl.
15 years ago before she met Sugar her daughter was horrifically murdered. Be aware there are some graphic scenes, but it had to done to show the reader how violent this was.
Imagine Pearl, not only her heart breaking from the loss of her beloved daughter but the horrifying way she went to her death.

Hate, rape, shame, secrets, murder and friendship found in unusual places.

This is a very intense.

Although the ending isn’t what you’d expect for one character I was happy to see Sugar ending for a brighter future seeing as she had never experienced real love from anyone in her life.

A gorgeous story of friendship between two very different women. It really reminded me of one of my favourite books The Colour Purple by Alice Walker. McFadden is a great storyteller and really sets a scene that is vivid and engaging. I definitely need to look into more of her work.

The audio was also really great.